CleanSpark Eyes Bitcoin Mining Expansion in Mountain City, Tennessee

Mountain City, Tennessee, could soon become home to a new Bitcoin mining facility as CleanSpark moves closer to securing local approvals for a project in Johnson County.

CleanSpark Chief Operating Officer Scott Garrison presented the company’s plans to the Mountain City Planning Board on April 24, outlining a proposal to build a Bitcoin data center on a 50.48-acre agricultural parcel located at 178 Rainbow Road, according to The Tomahawk.

The land, currently valued at $367,400, is owned by It’s His LLC and Steve Brown of Zionville, North Carolina, according to Tennessee property records.

While the planning board gave preliminary approval to the project in March, members opted to delay final approval until their next meeting on May 22, citing the absence of a complete site plan. Garrison said CleanSpark is awaiting necessary approvals from both the town and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) before proceeding with the land purchase and construction.

Mountain Electric General Manager Rodney Metcalf voiced support for the project, highlighting that CleanSpark’s energy needs could provide a much-needed boost to the local utility’s revenue. With the Parkdale plant — once the area’s major electricity consumer — no longer operational, Metcalf said a new large-scale customer could help prevent “drastic” rate increases for residents.

CleanSpark operates 31 Bitcoin mining facilities across Wyoming, Mississippi, Georgia, and Tennessee. If the Mountain City site is developed, CleanSpark expects to initially employ around 12 workers in high-paying roles that do not require a college degree. Garrison suggested future expansions, such as a repair shop, could create additional jobs.

Addressing community concerns about potential noise from mining operations, Garrison said the facility would use the latest immersion cooling technology, to eliminate the need for noisy fans. He compared the expected noise level to that of local traffic and assured the planning board of the safety of the cooling system.

Despite the delay in final approvals, Mountain City Mayor Jerry Jordan expressed optimism about the project. “We can say it looks very promising,” he was quoted as saying. The planning board is scheduled to revisit the proposal on May 22.