Originally published on: October 01, 2024
CleanSpark, a prominent Bitcoin mining firm based in the United States, is currently in the midst of a challenging battle to restore power across all its facilities following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. The hurricane, which caused widespread flooding, power outages, and extensive damage in several US states, forced CleanSpark to shut down 365 MW at its southeast Georgia site, leading to a significant drop in its hashrate from 28 exahashes per second to 10.5 EH/s.
Despite the setbacks, CleanSpark has successfully managed to bring back 200 MW online, boosting its current operating hash rate to 22 EH/s. The company’s CEO, Zach Bradford, stated in a recent announcement that they are working diligently to restore the remaining 165 MW and are hopeful to have all facilities back online by Oct. 4.
Fortunately, CleanSpark’s mining infrastructure has not suffered any significant damage due to Hurricane Helene, which was categorized as a devastating category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. Bradford emphasized that the safety of their team members remains a top priority.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has been tragic, with at least 137 casualties reported and widespread property damage across seven US states. The hurricane’s impact led to extensive flooding and road closures, with winds reaching up to 140 miles per hour in some areas. The death toll is expected to rise as search efforts continue for hundreds of missing individuals.
Despite the challenges faced by CleanSpark and other Bitcoin miners, the cryptocurrency’s hashrate has shown fluctuations between 538 EH/s and 745 EH/s since Hurricane Helene made landfall. The resilience and determination of companies like CleanSpark highlight the importance of disaster preparedness and recovery efforts in the face of natural disasters.
As CleanSpark navigates the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, their commitment to restoring power and maintaining operations serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience within the Bitcoin mining industry.
