MEROM, Ind. (Inside INdiana Enterprise) — A Kentucky-based cryptocurrency startup is seeking to remodel a portion of the Merom Producing Station in Sullivan County right into a crypto mining facility. AboutBit LLC says the challenge will create as much as 15 high-tech jobs with the potential for extra as soon as the power is on-line.
AboutBit payments itself as a startup “devoted to constructing extra sustainable options to mine cryptocurrencies.”
The corporate has entered right into a five-year settlement to buy 115-megawatts of electrical energy from WIN Power REMC, a nonprofit electrical distribution cooperative in Vincennes, to energy the power.
“We consider there’s large potential for rural areas and superior expertise infrastructure reminiscent of knowledge storage, cryptocurrency and cybersecurity amenities,” WIN Power CEO Tom Nowaskie mentioned in a information launch. “That is an instance of that potential, and we stay up for exploring related alternatives sooner or later.”
AboutBit says it’ll use superior expertise to mitigate environmental and noise air pollution, together with a liquid cooling system to make sure the machines run quietly. The corporate says constructing the info middle on the positioning of the facility plant means right here can be little to no impression on the surroundings.
AboutBit founder and CEO Stacy Griggs says the power can even be capable to cut back power utilization throughout peak intervals.
“It’s exhausting to spin up and spin down energy vegetation,” mentioned Griggs. “If demand within the area hits a peak, we’ll really be capable to cut back our energy necessities from WIN Power and reduce our use on the mining facility, in the end benefiting different prospects in Southwest Indiana.”
AboutBit didn’t instantly disclose its funding within the facility, which is anticipated to go surfing within the subsequent 30 days.
The Merom Producing Station is at the moment owned by Bloomington-based Hoosier Power. Nonetheless, in February, the co-op announced plans to promote the coal-fired plant to Terre Haute-based Hallador Energy Co. LLC. That deal is anticipated to shut in July.
