Monthly Archives: April 2026

Cedar Falls Planning & Zoning Commission: March 25, 2026 – Bitcoin Mining, Zoning, CFU Power Plant.

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Separating the Issues in the Cedar Falls Mining Debate

After reviewing the Planning & Zoning meeting from March 25th, 2026 where Bitcoin minnig, Zoning and a new CFU powerplant wer dicussed, it’s clear that several different issues were being discussed at the same time. When those get mixed together, it becomes difficult to evaluate the project clearly.

I think it helps to separate the discussion into four distinct categories.

1. Zoning & Land Use

This is the most important and most durable question.

Concerns about noise, building type (containers vs. permanent structures), water systems, and proximity to neighborhoods all fall into this category. These are not Bitcoin-specific issues — they apply to any industrial use.

If the concern is that this site should not be rezoned from light industrial to heavy industrial, that’s a legitimate argument. It sets precedent and affects long-term land use decisions for the city.

2. Power Plant

There are also concerns tied to the new power plant itself — environmental impact, scale, and whether it should be built at all.

That’s a separate policy decision.

If the concern is emissions or the role of a peaker plant, those questions should be addressed directly:

  • When does the plant run?
  • What is the cost of running it versus buying power from the grid?
  • How often is it expected to operate?

Those are important questions, but they are not inherently tied to Bitcoin mining.

3. Governance & Process

Some of the strongest concerns raised were about process and oversight.

The city, CFU, and the applicant are closely connected, which raises reasonable questions:

  • Is there sufficient independent review?
  • Has there been a third-party analysis of costs, noise, and environmental impact?

These are solvable issues:

  • Independent studies
  • Clear contract structures
  • Ongoing monitoring and transparency

4. Utility Economics (Where Bitcoin Actually Enters the Picture)

Only at this stage does Bitcoin mining itself become relevant.

CFU described miners as an interruptible load:

  • They consume electricity when it is cheap and abundant
  • They shut off when prices spike or the grid is stressed

This matters because utilities buy electricity at varying prices. If a flexible customer uses low-cost energy and avoids high-cost periods, it can reduce the utility’s average cost of power.

As one CFU representative explained, this dynamic lowers the average cost of power by reducing the need to purchase expensive electricity during peak periods.

That doesn’t guarantee lower bills, but it does suggest that mining — when structured correctly — is not inherently a cost burden and may improve system efficiency.

A Simple Test

One question that helps clarify the discussion:

If this facility were in a fully enclosed building, met all noise standards, and used a closed-loop system — would there still be strong opposition?

If the answer is yes, then the issue may not be the impacts themselves, but the perception of Bitcoin.

Closing Thought

There are legitimate concerns in this discussion, particularly around zoning, noise, and long-term planning. But many of the arguments raised in the meeting were not aligned with how the system was actually described.

If this decision is going to be made well, it should be grounded in:

  • land use
  • infrastructure planning
  • contract design
  • and measurable impacts

Not generalized assumptions about Bitcoin.

Link to the Cedar Falls Planning & Zoning Commission: March 25, 2026 where bitcoin mining, zoning and he new powerplant are discussed.

I also use the below link

YouVideoToText

to generate a transcript. You can then investigate the transcipt with ChatGPT or other LLM’s.

I have also already generated that PDF if you just want to download it yourself.

transcript Cedar Falls Planning &Zoning Commission March 25, 2026Download

I Reached Out to the Iowa Environmental Council About Bitcoin Mining

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There’s a growing conversation happening right now—globally and locally—around Bitcoin mining, energy use, and its impact on communities.

In Iowa, that conversation is no longer theoretical. It’s showing up in public meetings, local zoning discussions, and policy conversations that will shape how towns like Cedar Falls think about energy, infrastructure, and economic development.

Recently, the Iowa Environmental Council published a fact sheet outlining concerns about crypto mining. Documents like this matter. They don’t just inform—they influence how people think, how decisions get made, and how communities respond.

That’s exactly why I decided to reach out.

Not to argue. Not to dismiss concerns. But to do something that feels increasingly rare: slow down, look at the actual data, and ask whether the full picture is being represented.

The IEC states that its work is informed by science and data—and that it listens, learns, and adapts. I take that seriously. So my goal with this email is simple:

To add context where it’s missing.
To challenge assumptions where they may be incomplete.
And to contribute real-world examples—especially from how utilities actually operate—that don’t always make it into high-level summaries.

This isn’t about defending Bitcoin uncritically. It’s about making sure the conversation around it is grounded in how the system actually works—not just how it’s often portrayed.

Below is the note I sent to these people who work there

iecmail@iaenvironment.org, daniel@iaenvironment.org, fowle@iaenvironment.org, green@iaenvironment.org, howe@iaenvironment.org, oster@iaenvironment.org

Hello

Dear Iowa Environmental Council,

I recently reviewed your 2024 crypto mining fact sheet and wanted to share a response to several of the points raised.

On your website, you note that your work is informed by science, data, and stories, and that sometimes you educate and lead; other times, you learn and follow. You also emphasize the importance of listening to others.

I appreciate that framing. My goal in writing is in that same spirit—to contribute additional data, context, and real-world examples that may help strengthen and refine the analysis.

Given the ongoing discussions around crypto mining—both globally and here in Iowa—it is especially important that widely shared materials like this are as accurate and complete as possible. Incomplete or incorrect assumptions can shape public understanding in ways that lead to misinformed conclusions or policy decisions.

This is a complex and evolving topic, and it benefits from incorporating how these systems function in practice, particularly at the utility level.

Below are a few specific responses to points raised in the fact sheet:

1. Electricity Consumption and Grid Strain
It is true that bitcoin mining is energy-intensive. However, the characterization of mining as a constant strain on the grid is incomplete.

Unlike most industrial loads, mining is highly interruptible. Operators can shut down within minutes during periods of high demand, allowing them to function as a flexible demand response resource rather than a fixed burden.

This dynamic was acknowledged at a recent Cedar Falls Utilities discussion, where a utility representative explained that flexible loads like bitcoin mining can lower the average cost of electricity procurement. By consuming power during low-cost periods (when supply is abundant) and curtailing during peak demand, miners can improve overall system efficiency and reduce costs for consumers.

In other words, when structured properly, mining does not simply add demand—it can help smooth demand and reduce price volatility.

2. Energy Sources and Emissions
The fact sheet suggests that increased electricity demand from mining leads to greater fossil fuel use and associated emissions. This reflects a simplified, static view of grid behavior.

Globally, bitcoin mining is estimated to have one of the highest shares of renewable energy usage of any major industry. For example:

  • The Bitcoin Mining Council has estimated the global mining industry’s sustainable energy mix at ~50–60% in recent reports
  • A 2023 analysis from the University of Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance found a substantial and growing share of mining powered by renewables, particularly hydro, wind, and curtailed energy sources
  • Mining operations are frequently located where energy is stranded, excess, or otherwise underutilized, including wind-heavy regions like parts of the Midwest

Links for reference:

Additionally, mining is economically incentivized to seek out the lowest-cost electricity, which often corresponds to periods of excess renewable generation (e.g., high wind output in Iowa). During periods of high demand—when fossil generation is more likely to set the marginal price—miners can and do curtail usage.

This behavior contrasts with traditional industrial loads, which typically operate continuously regardless of grid conditions.

3. Air Pollution and Public Health
The fact sheet links mining activity to increased air pollution and health risks. However, this conclusion depends heavily on the assumption that mining drives additional fossil fuel generation.

If mining primarily consumes excess or curtailed renewable energy and reduces load during peak fossil generation periods, its net contribution to emissions can be materially different from the scenario described.

As a result, the environmental impact of mining is not uniform—it depends on how it interacts with the grid. Treating all mining load as equivalent to constant fossil-driven demand risks overstating its impact.

4. Noise Concerns
The concern around noise is valid and important at the local level.

However, noise is not unique to crypto mining and is commonly addressed through standard regulatory approaches such as setback requirements, sound limits, and site-specific mitigation measures. These tools are already used effectively for other industrial and agricultural operations.

5. Water Use
The fact sheet raises concerns about water consumption. While some mining facilities use water-based cooling, many modern operations rely on air cooling or closed-loop immersion systems that require minimal ongoing water use.

Water impact varies significantly depending on facility design and should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis rather than assumed to be uniformly high.

Additional Context: Grid Stability, Emissions, and Renewable Development

Because the fact sheet focuses primarily on potential harms, I believe it is also important to include emerging evidence on how bitcoin mining can interact positively with energy systems when deployed in certain ways.

Grid Stability
Bitcoin mining is one of the few large-scale loads that is both flexible and location-agnostic. It can absorb excess generation during periods of oversupply and curtail quickly when demand rises.

This flexibility directly addresses a known challenge with modern grids: balancing intermittent renewable generation with real-time demand. By acting as a controllable load, mining can help stabilize grid operations rather than simply adding to peak demand.

Emissions Reduction (Methane and Wasted Energy Use)
Bitcoin mining is increasingly being used to capture and utilize energy that would otherwise be wasted.

In particular, methane venting and flaring from oil production and landfills represents a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Mining can convert this otherwise-released methane into electricity and then into economic value—reducing net emissions in the process.

Support for Renewable Energy Development
Renewable energy projects often face economic challenges due to intermittency, transmission constraints, and periods of oversupply.

Bitcoin mining can act as a “buyer of last resort” for excess or stranded energy—particularly in early project phases or in regions where transmission capacity is limited.

Research has shown that integrating mining into renewable projects can improve project economics, increase revenue, and help bring new solar, wind, and hydro capacity online that might not otherwise be financially viable.

In summary, while the concerns raised in the fact sheet are important, several rely on assumptions that do not fully reflect how bitcoin mining operates in practice—particularly its ability to act as a flexible, price-responsive load that can align with periods of excess energy supply.

I appreciate your work on this topic and hope these additional perspectives are helpful in developing a more complete picture.

Sincerely,
Axel Hoogland

http://www.MyWheelLife.com

Bitcoin Is Good for the World—In Ways Most People Haven’t Considered

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Bitcoin Is Good for the World. Here’s the Case Most People Miss.

The typical Bitcoin conversation goes like this: someone brings it up, someone else calls it a scam or an environmental disaster, and the conversation collapses into noise before anything interesting gets said. What gets lost in all that noise is that Bitcoin is quietly doing things that genuinely matter — things that have nothing to do with the price chart. Specifically:

  • What Bitcoin mining is doing to stabilize the power grid
  • What it’s doing to reduce emissions in the atmosphere
  • What Bitcoin is doing to subsidize the creation of green energy assets (solar, wind, hydro)
  • What it’s doing for people living under governments that would rather they had no financial options at all

The Grid Problem Nobody Talks About

Here’s something that doesn’t get enough attention: the modern electric grid has a flexibility problem. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are intermittent by nature. The wind doesn’t blow on command. The sun doesn’t shine at peak demand. So grids end up with these awkward mismatches — too much power when nobody needs it, not enough when everyone does.

The traditional fix involves “peaker plants” — gas-burning facilities that sit idle most of the time and fire up when demand spikes. They’re expensive to build and costly to run.

Bitcoin miners are different.

Unlike most industrial loads, they can scale down quickly when the grid is stressed and ramp back up when surplus power returns. That makes them one of the few large energy buyers that can absorb excess power without demanding constant priority from the grid.

A Duke University Nicholas Institute report found that the U.S. grid could accommodate 76 gigawatts of flexible load — roughly 10% of peak demand — with expected annual curtailment of just 0.25%.
👉 https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/sites/default/files/publications/rethinking-load-growth.pdf

That matters because electricity demand in the U.S. is rising again, driven by AI data centers, manufacturing, and electrification. Traditional data centers require continuous power and add stress at exactly the wrong times.

Bitcoin mining is the opposite.

It soaks up energy when the grid has too much and steps back when the grid needs relief.

It doesn’t just consume electricity — it makes the system more flexible.

And this isn’t just theoretical.

At a recent city council discussion in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the local utility (CFU) explained that their Bitcoin mining partner actually helps lower electricity costs for residents.

Their reasoning was simple:

  • The miner uses excess power when it’s cheap
  • It shuts down when power is expensive
  • That reduces the utility’s need to buy high-cost electricity

As one CFU representative put it during the meeting (timestamp 2:05:57):

“That lowers the average cost of power because we’re buying a lot less.”

👉 https://youtu.be/JcxxYyh2FoI?t=7508

That’s the part most people miss.

It’s not true that Bitcoin miners automatically raise electricity prices.

It depends entirely on how the contracts are structured.

In Cedar Falls, the utility itself is saying the opposite:

👉 The miner helps lower average costs for residents.

That’s not a theory.

That’s happening in practice.

The Methane Story Is Even More Interesting

If you’ve heard that Bitcoin is bad for the environment, you’ve probably heard the energy consumption number. What you likely haven’t heard is what Bitcoin mining can do with one of the most potent greenhouse gases on the planet: methane.

When oil is drilled, natural gas often comes up with it. In places where there’s no pipeline infrastructure nearby, operators may vent it or flare it. Both are bad outcomes. Methane has a much stronger warming effect than CO₂, and imperfect flaring leaves a meaningful share unburned.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy acknowledged this directly in a 2022 report:
👉 https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/09-2022-Crypto-Assets-and-Climate-Report.pdf

Bitcoin mining offers a third option: put that gas to work.

Companies such as Crusoe deploy systems that use otherwise-wasted gas to generate electricity on site.

One widely cited analysis estimated that:

➡️ 9,482 tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions can be reduced per megawatt per year

👉 https://dergigi.com/assets/files/2022-09-03-arcane-research-how-bitcoin-mining-can-transform-the-energy-industry.pdf

Peer-reviewed research has also shown Bitcoin mining can help finance methane mitigation at landfills:
👉 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652624029652

Instead of releasing methane, it gets destroyed — and turned into useful energy.

Bitcoin doesn’t just use energy — it can clean up wasted energy.

Bitcoin Is Quietly Funding the Green Energy Build-Out

This is the angle that almost never makes it into mainstream coverage, and it’s arguably the most important one for long-term climate outcomes.

Building a renewable energy project is expensive and financially risky. One of the toughest windows is the period after the project is capable of generating electricity but before it is fully interconnected and earning reliable revenue from the grid.

During that phase:

  • Energy is being produced
  • But there may be no reliable buyer

That’s a problem.

A Cornell-led study published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering found that Bitcoin mining can materially improve project economics during this phase. In Texas alone:

  • 32 planned renewable projects
  • Could generate $47 million in additional profit
  • By using Bitcoin mining before grid integration

👉 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c05445

It also works after grid connection.

In parts of Texas, electricity prices can go negative.

Why?

  • Too much power
  • Not enough transmission
  • Not enough local demand

When that happens, producers may be forced to:

👉 Sell electricity at a loss
👉 Or shut down production

One West Texas solar plant had to sell 10.1% of its energy at a loss because of this.

Bitcoin mining changes that.

Instead of dumping excess energy into an oversupplied market, the plant can redirect that power into mining — creating a buyer of last resort and a price floor for surplus energy.

In that case, adding Bitcoin mining increased total site revenue by 3.7%.

👉 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/theres-no-catch-bitcoin-mining-200335729.html

Bitcoin turns stranded energy into revenue.

And that makes more projects viable.

Money as a Tool of Oppression

Most people in the developed world think of money as a neutral tool. But in many countries, financial systems are instruments of surveillance and control.

That’s why the Human Rights Foundation has spent years supporting Bitcoin tools and education for activists, journalists, and dissidents:
👉 https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/

Bitcoin allows people to:

  • Receive money
  • Send money
  • Store savings

Without needing permission.

In 2026, HRF announced a new round of funding supporting projects helping billions of people living under authoritarian regimes:
👉 https://hrf.org/latest/hrfs-bitcoin-development-fund-announces-support-for-26-projects-worldwide/

Not as speculation.

As survival.

The Part Most People Miss

People tend to look at Bitcoin through their own lens.

They interpret it based on what they already understand — their background, their assumptions, their biases.

Some see a speculative asset.
Some see an environmental topic.
Some see a political idea.
Some see a technological curiosity.

But that lens often misses what’s actually happening.

Bitcoin is creating a new kind of demand for energy — one that is flexible, location-agnostic, and always willing to buy excess supply.

At the same time, it’s creating a form of money that doesn’t rely on permission.

Those two things don’t seem connected at first.

But they are.

And together, they’re quietly improving how energy is used, how infrastructure gets built, and how people access financial systems.

That story doesn’t show up in the price.

But Bitcoin is slowly improving the world — one miner and one transaction at a time.