Estimated reading time: 1 minute · Last updated: 2026-08-12
VoltCore’s plan to build a Bitcoin mining center in Somerville, Alabama, is advancing even as Morgan County imposes a year-long moratorium. Utility crews have begun groundwork along Union Road, laying out routes for water, gas and AT&T service lines. Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long told WAFF that the moratorium, put in place in June, leaves the county with little power to stop the project aside from public pressure and potential litigation. Two months earlier, VoltCore representatives visited nearby homeowners to notify them of the plans and asked for easement consent, which none had granted. Homeowners fear environmental damage and flood risk as the project moves forward while the county has no zoning authority. The clash highlights a growing tension between crypto infrastructure and local governance.
Key takeaways
- Utility work is underway: VoltCore has begun utility work at the Somerville site, marking routes for water, gas and AT&T service along Union Road.
- County cites lack of zoning authority: Morgan County Chairman Ray Long says there is “no zoning, there’s none of that,” leaving little to stop the project beyond persuasion and potential lawsuits.
- Homeowners plan legal and environmental steps: Carlee Carlton says residents intend to hire a lawyer and fund an environmental study to assess possible floodplain impacts and endangered species concerns.
- Moratorium established in June 2026: The year-long moratorium on Bitcoin mining data centers was put in place in June 2026, creating a pause while local stakeholders consider impacts.
Utility work advances despite the moratorium
VoltCore has begun utility work at the Somerville site, with flags marking routes for water, gas and AT&T service lines along Union Road. The activity is visible even as the county maintains a moratorium on such projects, underscoring a conflict between infrastructure progress and local policy. The work indicates a continued push to lay the groundwork for a mining center despite governance gaps in the county’s rural areas.
The paused status is not just symbolic. Ray Long, the Morgan County Commission Chairman, told WAFF the moratorium is a year-long measure put in place in June, and that the county has limited tools to halt the project beyond public statements and legal action. In practice, the county’s lack of zoning authority means it cannot simply block construction; it must rely on other channels or the courts to intervene if disputes escalate.
