A proposed cryptocurrency mining facility in Moose Lake, Minnesota, promises revenue for the city but has sparked resident concerns over noise. Revolve Labs presented the plan at a public hearing, emphasizing minimal impact, yet locals remain skeptical based on experiences elsewhere. The project awaits city council approval.
On January 20, 2026, Revolve Labs, a Colorado-based company specializing in data centers for bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence, pitched its proposal for a computing complex in Moose Lake. The facility would occupy 2 acres next to the municipal power station off Highway 73 and consist of modular buildings—about 44 feet long each—cooled by industrial fans rather than water.
Jeff St. Onge, the company's senior operations manager, assured attendees at the packed public hearing in the Soo Line Event Center that the operation would be "minimally impactful." He highlighted that it would start with five or six buildings, potentially expanding to 12, and consume 10 megawatts of power—more than four times the city's usage—sourced directly from the MISO grid, separate from local infrastructure to avoid affecting resident rates.
However, skepticism dominated the discussion before the Moose Lake Water and Light Commission. Resident Lesly Ramey voiced strong opposition: "I’m a big ‘no,’ because too many people like us have been lied to about the noise." Complaints from Revolve's existing Glencoe facility, where fan noise reaches 55 decibels, fueled doubts. In Moose Lake, nearest homes are 800 to 1,000 feet away—farther than in Glencoe—and St. Onge outlined mitigation like berms and fencing. Local readings near a Kwik Trip station showed ambient noise from 47 to 80 decibels, with commissioner Doug Juntunen noting: "You stand out at Kwik Trip at any given day and you’ll be hearing louder noises going by you with the semis coming and going."
Commissioner Curt Yort, after visiting Glencoe, compared the sound to the local power plant and stressed benefits: "I see this as a real opportunity for the city of Moose Lake. It brings a few jobs, but it will help the residents—the electric payer—in the long run," aiding upgrades to aging infrastructure. Estimated first-year revenue: $300,000 for Moose Lake Power and $90,000 for the city, per commissioner Doug Skelton.
Concerns extended to accountability, with Terry Koren asking: "Where is the accountability piece?" Past withdrawals—Windom in fall 2024 and Mountain Lake in early 2025—added wariness. A contract exists with Moose Lake Power, but city administrator Ellissa Owens noted council approval of a lease or development agreement is required next.
