MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Town of Mountain City’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Tuesday to spend $750 on two rental vans to transport citizens to a CleanSpark Bitcoin mining facility in Georgia for a tour amid public outcry against the company setting up a similar facility within the town.

CleanSpark has been working to construct and operate the cryptocurrency mining station in Mountain City for months. The Nevada-based company is trying to build on 50 acres off Highway 421 near Johnson County Community Hospital.

Residents in the town have been outspoken about their wariness surrounding the facility, primarily concerning the noise pollution and other cons that they say would come from the operation. Bitcoin mines use high-powered computers to “mine” the cryptocurrency, and oftentimes fans used to cool those computers emit loud noises heard for miles.

CleanSpark, however, said a newer cooling technology that submerges the computers in water would be used at the proposed facility in Johnson County, the same tech used at its Norcross, Georgia mine.

The company claims the cooling process is significantly less noisy.

This is why Mayor Jerry Jordan said he wants residents to visit the Georgia facility to see what he’s seen, as he has previously been shown around the Norcross operation.

He also previously told News Channel 11 that the power consumption that CleanSpark would be paying Mountain Electric for would be a good way to make up for the loss of Parkdale Mills. The town previously raised water and sewer rates, citing the plant’s closure.

The motion was originally outlined for the BMA to “consider for approval the appropriation of $5,000.00 to 110-41100-329 Legislative Other Operating Cost, from UFB to fund bus trip to Norcross, GA to tour CleanSpark facility,” according to Tuesday’s agenda.

That motion was amended after discussion amongst the BMA. The amended motion for the trip to Norcross now has a budget of $750 for two rental vans, rather than a coach bus. The amended motion passed, with four voting yes and Alderman Jason Bryan abstaining.

The trip to Norcross to tour CleanSpark’s Bitcoin mining facility will take place on June 16.