Louisa County moves to halt crypto mining projects | The Hawk Eye - Burlington, Iowa

WAPELLO — The first reading of a resolution calling for a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining projects in Louisa County was approved by the county board of supervisors following a Sept. 1 public hearing.

The board conducted the public hearing as part of the first meeting of its regular semimonthly meeting schedule and following a July 7 decision by the board to establish a moratorium on data center projects in the county.

Board Chair Kevin Hardin provided a short background to the cryptocurrency moratorium, explaining it would follow the same pattern as the data center decision.

Under both actions, the moratorium will remain in effect for 18 months or until an ordinance is established regulating such facilities, whichever comes first.

However, unlike the data center resolution, which the board passed on its first reading and then waived the second and third readings, the board only approved the first reading on the cryptocurrency moratorium.

The supervisors indicated one reason they only approved the first reading was concerns that some residents could not attend the meeting. Supervisor Scot Hunt pointed out a Board of Adjustment public hearing on a proposed solar energy facility had been scheduled the same evening as the supervisors’ meeting.