Development of an unpermitted bitcoin mine in eastern Coffee County has been halted while county commissioners consider the best way to proceed with this kind of development in the community.
At a special called county commission meeting last week, commissioners met with Eric Su of LN8 Energy. Su and LN Energy are bringing the bitcoin mine to Coffee County. In January, officials were notified of the mine and put a stop to the project. They haven’t done anything since then. Even after last week’s meeting, it remains unclear what action the county plans to do.
During the meeting, commissioners established that work had begun on the project without obtaining the proper permits. The property is also zone AG, Agriculture – which is not an appropriate zoning for an operation such as a bitcoin mine.
Su spoke to the commission and blamed the fact that he didn’t obtain proper permits on a “miscommunication.” “I think it’s my fault. I should have told him more about our project,” he said.
“The project is suspended presently and I know that you’ve sent some information to us. We talked some about it. We’re trying to understand how this type of development – how and where it could fit into our land use and development code. We currently have a project that is not permitted, that is not zoned for this use, and also is a type of land use that’s not even envisioned in our land use development code,” said county attorney Tony Rowell. He added that the county needs time to figure out if the current location is the right place for a bitcoin mine, and if not, what would be the right place for such an operation.
Satilla REMC’s Jim Tucker was at the meeting as well. “We have no part to play other than we’re the energy provider, just like with any other customer. That’s where our involvement is,” he said. In its current location, the mine is near a substation that could handle the amount of power needed to supply such an operation, he said. The mine’s power bill would run an estimated $600,000 per month.
Currently, Su and LN8 Energy are embroiled in a similar situation in Pierce County. LN8 would like to construct a bitcoin mine on Cason Road. The Pierce County Planning Commission did not approve the project earlier this year. LN8 applied for a permit in November of last year. On February 11, 2025, the Pierce County Commission denied a permit for the location. Su and LN8 appealed the denial of the permit and a hearing was scheduled for March. However, it was rescheduled and will take place at 5 p.m. on July 8.
Many citizens in Pierce County have expressed their opposition to the operation. If it were somehow approved, the mine would be the first bitcoin mine in Pierce County.
Coffee County has a bitcoin mine that has been operating for about two years in the city on land owned by the Industrial Authority.
Opponents to crypto mines cite several concerns, chief among them being noise from fans used to cool the computer servers. Su said that due to the size of the operation slated for Coffee County, the units would likely be water cooled, necessitating a well on the property.
Commissioners did not make a decision regarding the Coffee County project nor did they set a date for future discussions.
Also at the meeting, commissioners approved the bid for the Fox Hills improvement project ($57,492.63 to East Coast Asphalt) and tabled the bid for the Bud Hutcheson Road paving project.
Regarding the Pierce County project, DouglasNow.com referenced a story posted at theblacksheartimes.com dated June 10, 2025.