LogOn Crypto Mining Texas USAGM
Metadata
- LogOn Crypto Mining Texas USAGM
- August 2, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn: Crypto Mining Texas (TV/R) HEADLINE: LogOn: Texas Town Welcomes Bitcoin Mining TEASER: Two factories use energy-intensive computers to solve complex problems, part of a boom in bitcoin mining operations around the U.S. BYLINE: Deana Mitchell PUBLISHED: 8/2/2022 at 9:45am DATELINE: ROCKDALE, Texas VIDEOGRAPHER: Deana Mitchell PRODUCER: Deana Mitchell SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, Reifenrath VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP, VOA, Riot Blockchain INC, YouTube PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X TRT: 1:58 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: A longer version was released in late June/early July )) ((INTRO)) [[A rural town in central Texas is home to the largest bitcoin mining facility in North America, bringing jobs and a renewed vitality to the community. But the operations are part of a volatile new industry that has raised concerns about its energy use and investor risk. Deana Mitchell has the story.]] ((Steve Pruitt, Rockdale Citizen)) “My dad worked there for 30 years. I worked at the generating plant." ((NARRATOR)) Steve Pruitt and his family were hit hard with the closing of the aluminum smelting factory in 2008 and, more recently, the power plant. More than 1,000 jobs were lost in this small Texas town. But a new industry has arrived: crypto mining. Rockdale is now home to two bitcoin mining data centers, one owned by a firm once based in China. Mining operations are being set up in towns across Texas, especially since China outlawed crypto mining. Rockdale welcomes the crypto miners. [[FOR RADIO: Here is Rockdale’s outgoing mayor, John King]] ((John King, Outgoing Rockdale Mayor)) “We’re open for business, and come on in.” ((NARRATOR)) Bitcoin mining is the process in which computers race to solve complicated math problems to verify transactions on the blockchain. But the surge of crypto mining across the U.S. is raising environmental concerns about the energy used to mine it and financial concerns over investor risk. ((Mandatory CG: Youtube and Chad Everett Harris/Riot Blockchain INC)) Chad Everett Harris, a Whinstone executive, says there are several reasons to be here. ((Chad Everett Harris, Whinstone)) “The government itself encourages it. They offer incentives and programs and job training, and then the workforce here is just incredible.” ((NARRATOR)) Some locals here admit they aren’t too sure what crypto mining is. [[FOR RADIO: Gary Smith is a resident of Rockdale]] ((Gary Smith, Rockdale Resident)) “I don’t completely understand it 100 percent, and I know a lot of people are the same way.” ((NARRATOR)) But it has brought jobs. Some hope crypto mining will tide the town over until other industries can get going. [[FOR RADIO: Again Steve Pruitt, longtime resident of Rockdale]] ((Steve Pruitt, Rockdale Resident)) “Until you get hardcore real manufacturing, you're never going to see anything close to return to the days that we had enjoyed.” ((Mandatory CG: Youtube and Chad Everett Harris/Riot Blockchain INC.)) And the immense amount of energy needed to mine crypto currency is an issue. Before a recent heatwave, Whinstone released this video message. ((Chad Everett Harris, Whinstone)) ((Mandatory CG: Youtube and Chad Everett Harris/Riot Blockchain INC)) “We will turn our power off. And during that time, that power that we are not using can be used in the grid itself.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, Rockdale’s bitcoin mining data centers continue to hum 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Deana Mitchell, for VOA News, Rockdale, Texas
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn: Crypto Mining Texas (TV/R) HEADLINE: LogOn: Texas Town Welcomes Bitcoin Mining TEASER: Two factories use energy-intensive computers to solve complex problems, part of a boom in bitcoin mining operations around the U.S. BYLINE: Deana Mitchell PUBLISHED: 8/2/2022 at 9:45am DATELINE: ROCKDALE, Texas VIDEOGRAPHER: Deana Mitchell PRODUCER: Deana Mitchell SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, Reifenrath VIDEO SOURCE (S): AFP, VOA, Riot Blockchain INC, YouTube PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X TRT: 1:58 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES: A longer version was released in late June/early July )) ((INTRO)) [[A rural town in central Texas is home to the largest bitcoin mining facility in North America, bringing jobs and a renewed vitality to the community. But the operations are part of a volatile new industry that has raised concerns about its energy use and investor risk. Deana Mitchell has the story.]] ((Steve Pruitt, Rockdale Citizen)) “My dad worked there for 30 years. I worked at the generating plant." ((NARRATOR)) Steve Pruitt and his family were hit hard with the closing of the aluminum smelting factory in 2008 and, more recently, the power plant. More than 1,000 jobs were lost in this small Texas town. But a new industry has arrived: crypto mining. Rockdale is now home to two bitcoin mining data centers, one owned by a firm once based in China. Mining operations are being set up in towns across Texas, especially since China outlawed crypto mining. Rockdale welcomes the crypto miners. [[FOR RADIO: Here is Rockdale’s outgoing mayor, John King]] ((John King, Outgoing Rockdale Mayor)) “We’re open for business, and come on in.” ((NARRATOR)) Bitcoin mining is the process in which computers race to solve complicated math problems to verify transactions on the blockchain. But the surge of crypto mining across the U.S. is raising environmental concerns about the energy used to mine it and financial concerns over investor risk. ((Mandatory CG: Youtube and Chad Everett Harris/Riot Blockchain INC)) Chad Everett Harris, a Whinstone executive, says there are several reasons to be here. ((Chad Everett Harris, Whinstone)) “The government itself encourages it. They offer incentives and programs and job training, and then the workforce here is just incredible.” ((NARRATOR)) Some locals here admit they aren’t too sure what crypto mining is. [[FOR RADIO: Gary Smith is a resident of Rockdale]] ((Gary Smith, Rockdale Resident)) “I don’t completely understand it 100 percent, and I know a lot of people are the same way.” ((NARRATOR)) But it has brought jobs. Some hope crypto mining will tide the town over until other industries can get going. [[FOR RADIO: Again Steve Pruitt, longtime resident of Rockdale]] ((Steve Pruitt, Rockdale Resident)) “Until you get hardcore real manufacturing, you're never going to see anything close to return to the days that we had enjoyed.” ((Mandatory CG: Youtube and Chad Everett Harris/Riot Blockchain INC.)) And the immense amount of energy needed to mine crypto currency is an issue. Before a recent heatwave, Whinstone released this video message. ((Chad Everett Harris, Whinstone)) ((Mandatory CG: Youtube and Chad Everett Harris/Riot Blockchain INC)) “We will turn our power off. And during that time, that power that we are not using can be used in the grid itself.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, Rockdale’s bitcoin mining data centers continue to hum 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Deana Mitchell, for VOA News, Rockdale, Texas
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date August 2, 2022 10:32 EDT
- Byline Deana Mitchell
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America