Planning Committee Member Jerry Peterson wants to make sure the new solar array in Silver Cliff is not wasted on helping mining cryptocurrency

At the regular meeting of the Silver Cliff Planning Committee (PC) on March 19, member Jerry Peterson warned the PC about the need to make sure that Silver Cliff’s industrial re-zoning takes cryptocurrency mining into account when they consider new regulations, particularly in the wake of the establishment of the new community solar farm.

“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with cryptocurrency mining,” Peterson said: “The reason I am a little bit concerned about it is that we are re-zoning for industrial, and the bitcoin people say ‘we can automatically put bitcoin mining in place’ [in an industrial zone] unless we have an ordinance in place regulating it.

“[Cryptocurrency mining] is very annoying because of noise and electricity use and water use. These people are finding ingenious ways to get around it, like establishing large solar farms. One of these opened up between Delta and Olathe on the Western Slope – a 70-acre solar farm to fuel bitcoin mining. The outfit, Aspen Data Corp, bought the old [Louisiana Pacific] plant there. They are from El Segundo, California…I am just concerned that these guys can come in and bully their way in – particularly if legislation passes that seems like it’s going to circumvent local control. I think we need to put a moratorium on [the industrial district re-zoning].”

Peterson referred the PC to two articles included in their packet, one from an organization called the Satoshi Action Fund, touting “right to mine bitcoin” legislation. Arkansas passed such a “right to mine” law in 2024, which prevents local governments from regulating the construction or location of such facilities in their communities. There are already complaints, according to an article published in 2024 by CBS News, of excessive noise coming from such facilities, as well as concerns about excessive electricity and water usage. According to the same article, the Satoshi Action Fund has been pushing the same legislation in a number of other states, although not (yet) in Colorado.

The PC agreed that this was a topic to revisit in future meetings. “We need to keep in mind what things are important to us in terms of noise and aesthetics,” noted member Lisa Nolan.

“We need to apply the standards to the industrial zone in general,” said member Steve Lasswell: “I am afraid that if we have a moratorium, and this law passes, then they’ll say that our moratorium is null and void – we need to have restrictions in place.”

“Can we have restrictions in place that would allow some uses, but not bitcoin mining, by virtue of noise, water use, etc being at prohibited levels?” asked PC Chairman Larry Weber. “Buck, are you aware of this legislation?” Silver Cliff Mayor Buck Wenzel replied that he was.

In other business, the PC unanimously approved an alley vacation request in block 68, on the north side of Main Street at the conjunction of Ohio and Wood Streets; discussed setting a workshop date to discuss part of their re-consideration of the town’s proposed tiny home ordinance; considered and passed a motion to send the revised Master Plan on to the Board of Trustees for approval; and received a Re-Zoning Committee update.

– Elliot Jackson