Bitcoin Mining Noise Disrupts Learning at Lake Superior Academy

At Lake Superior Academy, a bitcoin mining farm's noise disrupts outdoor learning, raising concerns about health and transparency.

July 2, 2025

Editor’s note: This story was adapted for print and designed to be read. If available, WCMU encourages you to listen to the original audio version of this story.

Amidst the serene backdrop of Lake Superior Academy near Sault Ste. Marie, the gentle sounds of nature have been replaced by a new, mechanical hum. This charter school, known for integrating outdoor experiences into its curriculum, now faces challenges from the constant noise of a nearby bitcoin mining operation.

Superintendent Susie Schlehuber explains that the academy’s outdoor area functions as an essential classroom space for students from preschool through fifth grade. “It’s not a recess place, it’s where we do learning every day,” she emphasized.

Typically, students engage in various outdoor activities for about two hours each day. However, since March, the noise from the bitcoin mining farm situated across the street has disrupted this tranquility.

A sign at the Lake Superior Academy’s bird observation shed reminds students to be quiet in order to better hear and identify birds. The school’s superintendent says the sound of a bitcoin mining farm across the street has drowned out the birds.

Teresa Homsi / WCMU

The facility operates six metal storage units, which house computers that solve complex mathematical problems to generate cryptocurrency. Schlehuber notes, “The students often, daily, say ‘when is this going to stop?'” adding that the constant sound measures around 70 to 75 decibels.

Concerns about the long-term impact of noise exposure and air pollution linked to bitcoin mining have been raised by local residents. Additionally, the lack of transparency from those operating the facility adds to the community’s unease.

Mysterious Presence

While the operators of the bitcoin farm have attended local meetings, Schlehuber states that clarity regarding their affiliations remains elusive. “The longer we learn about them, the less we know, the more questions we have,” she remarked.

A chart attached to a building permit application that describes the individual data centers at a bitcoin mining farm in the eastern UP.

Michael Carbonara, associated with Odessa LLC, is named as the property owner on the permit application. He also leads Ibanera, a financial tech company. Despite several attempts, neither Carbonara nor his company responded to inquiries from WCMU.

Carbonara’s involvement at the Dafter Township bitcoin facility remains uncertain. A recent lawsuit accuses him and his company of misappropriating over $20 million, according to Eye Witness News.

Zoning and Regulation

Dafter Township Supervisor Bob Brown commented that the site is considered a storage facility under current zoning laws, which do not specifically prohibit bitcoin mining. The situation has prompted discussions on updating local ordinances to better address modern data centers.

The outdoor classroom at the Lake Superior Academy in the eastern UP, where students typically spend two hours a day.

Brown also noted the absence of noise regulations, suggesting any new ordinance would not apply to existing operations. However, he emphasized learning from the experience to prevent similar issues in the future.

Data Center Expansion

Another bitcoin mining site in Dafter Township is under development, with promotional materials highlighting the area as ideal for such ventures. Cloverland Electric Cooperative, the local power supplier, clarified in a statement that they do not own these facilities.

The growth of data centers, including those for cryptocurrency, is projected to increase significantly. A recent report forecasts a substantial rise in capacity, with rural areas as potential targets for development.

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