Backduring the down turn of 2022, crypto critics said the nascent industry wouldn’t bounce back. Skeptics in rural Spur and Dickens County, Texas, tended to agree, especially when Argo Blockchain, founder of the local Helios mining facility that opened to great fanfare, declared bankruptcy and sold out in late December. And even more especially when Argo left its offer to rebuild Spur’s outof- commission swimming pool high and dry.
Spring forward to 2024, and Galaxy Digital, which took over the Helios operation, is humming.
TheNewYork–basedbitcoinmineroffered State Rep. Dustin Burrows (HD 83) and his staff an inside look last Wednesday.
Touring the long corridors of immersioncooled computerprocessors—some54,000of them inside and outside the 145,000-squarefoot plant—Burrowspepperedhisguideswith questions about the technology and, more important, the jobs and tax revenue the project is bringing to one of his district’s counties.
“This is what we need to be doing more of” in the district, Burrows said, indicating the combination of renewable energy storage, electrical distribution systems, and local business that bring desperately needed employment opportunities and dollars to West Texas.
Galaxy representatives explained that the Cottonwood power substation, for one, Back during the downturn of 2022, crypto critics said the nascent industry wouldn’t bounce back. Skeptics in rural Spur and Dickens County, Texas, tended to agree, especially when Argo Blockchain, founder of the local Helios mining facility that opened to great fanfare, declared bankruptcy and sold out in late December. And even more especially when Argo left its offer to rebuild Spur’s out-of-commission swimming pool high and dry.
Spring forward to 2024, and Galaxy Digital, which took over the Helios operation, is humming.
The New York–based bitcoin miner offered State Rep. Dustin Burrows (HD 83) and his staff an inside look last Wednesday.
Touring the long corridors of immersion- cooled computer processors—some 54,000 of them inside and outside the 145,000-square-foot plant—Burrows peppered his guides with questions about the technology and, more important, the jobs and tax revenue the project is bringing to one of his district’s counties.
“This is what we need to be doing more of” in the district, Burrows said, indicating the combination of renewable energy storage, electrical distribution systems, and local business that bring desperately needed employment opportunities and dollars to West Texas. Galaxy representatives explained that the Cottonwood power substation, for one, is an asset that made the site attractive to Argo from the outset. Burksol and Broad Reach are other projects that have already moved in and broken ground in the area. Once those facilities are built out, Dickens County—and more of the South Plains—can bring in even more high-tech businesses and jobs.
“You’re the catalyst,” Burrows told a group of Galaxy staffers who took a few minutes away from computer monitors to ask and answer questions. Other businesses, including traditional data centers, might consider locating in the area, he said.
Galaxy spokesperson Barbara Bogart confirmed that Galaxy is already the largest taxpayer in the county, and has brought 44 jobs to the site.
“We want to see this facility get what it needs,” Burrows told Galaxy staffers. “You’re the proving ground, and we look forward to seeing this part of Texas grow and thrive.”
“We want to see this facility getwhat it needs,”Burrows told Galaxy staffers.
“You’re the proving ground,and we look forward to seeing this part of Texas grow and thrive.”
