Bradley County Planning Commission recommends cryptocurrency-mining rules to county commission, seeks definitions for data and AI centers

The Bradley County Planning Commission voted to recommend a draft ordinance on cryptocurrency mining to the County Commission for a public hearing, asking staff to expand the draft to separately address data centers and artificial intelligence centers.

Planner told the commission the draft was modeled on regulations from White County and adapted for Bradley County and that it is intended to apply to commercial cryptocurrency mining. Commissioner Josh Rogers said he wanted data centers and AI centers added and separated in the definition and regulatory text, arguing that data centers collect information and AI centers can be low-staff but high electrical demand. "I would like to see us add in data centers and also artificial intelligence centers... have those 2 separated out," Rogers said.

Commissioners discussed storage and siting limits in the draft. A commissioner noted the draft prohibits the use of cargo containers and similar storage containers for mining equipment; another raised that small-scale personal mining at a residence would not likely be detectable unless it produced unusually high utility usage, and the planner said an industrial-zoning approach aims primarily at larger, commercial operations.

Planner told the commission a 30-day public notice will be required before the county commission can adopt the regulation, and staff will prepare definitions for "artificial intelligence centers" and "data centers" as requested. After the discussion the commission approved the recommendation by roll call vote (7-0).

Next steps: staff will draft the added definitions and return the package to the County Commission with the Planning Commission's recommendation and the required public-notice period.