Blab Crypto
Simple Mining Eyes Greene County Data-Center Project Amid Pending Permits
Simple Mining, a Bitcoin‑mining company based in Cedar Falls, Iowa, has expressed continued interest in building a data‑center facility in Greene County. The company first approached the Greene County Board of Supervisors in November and December 2025 to discuss a potential site between the towns of Jefferson and Scranton.
The county’s Development Corporation (GCDC) Director, Greg Piklapp, said that Simple Mining has secured the property and that the Supervisors approved a zoning ordinance amendment at the end of 2025 that allows data‑center and cryptocurrency‑mining operations. The amendment, adopted on December 23, 2025, provides a conditional‑use framework for such projects.
According to Piklapp, the company is still refining its design plans. He explained that Simple Mining’s design team is working on the layout and that the firm has been juggling multiple projects, which has stretched its staffing resources. “They’re refining the design process and then we hit planning. And then it was like a scheduling issue for them because they had another project that they were working on as well,” Piklapp said. He added that the company is coordinating with Midland Power for the necessary power connections.
Piklapp emphasized that the project must remain compliant with the county’s zoning code. “One of the final things that we did ask is that if there are any additional things, it still has to fit within the county code,” he said. “The code was designed as the protections for the community and for the residents of Greene County. If there are any changes or anything has changed from the initial concept that they proposed to us, it still has to fit the county code that was passed. That I do know is going to be the final word on the project.”
The county’s zoning amendment was the result of a series of public hearings in November and December 2025. The Board reviewed a draft ordinance that would allow conditional‑use permits for data centers and cryptocurrency‑mining facilities, addressing issues such as distance from residential areas and environmental impact.
Simple Mining’s original proposal, as outlined in a 2025 filing, called for a $12 million investment. The plan would occupy 15 acres of land and create eight to ten jobs, with an average starting salary of $20,000. The company has not yet submitted final plans to the county, and the permit process has not begun.
The company’s website describes its core services as the sale, hosting, and repair of Bitcoin miners. It also notes that it operates a repair facility and a team of technicians in Cedar Falls.
At this stage, the project remains in the planning phase. The county will review the final design and permit application once Simple Mining submits them. Until that point, the company’s plans are subject to the conditions set out in the amended zoning ordinance.
The development is part of a broader trend of cryptocurrency‑mining firms seeking sites in rural U.S. counties that offer low electricity costs and a supportive regulatory environment. Greene County’s recent ordinance amendment reflects a growing interest in attracting such projects while maintaining community protections.
In summary, Simple Mining has secured a site in Greene County and is working on design and power arrangements. The county’s zoning ordinance now permits data‑center and mining operations, but the company has not yet filed final plans, and the permit process is pending. The county will evaluate the project against its code once the application is submitted.
The county’s Development Corporation (GCDC) Director, Greg Piklapp, said that Simple Mining has secured the property and that the Supervisors approved a zoning ordinance amendment at the end of 2025 that allows data‑center and cryptocurrency‑mining operations. The amendment, adopted on December 23, 2025, provides a conditional‑use framework for such projects.
According to Piklapp, the company is still refining its design plans. He explained that Simple Mining’s design team is working on the layout and that the firm has been juggling multiple projects, which has stretched its staffing resources. “They’re refining the design process and then we hit planning. And then it was like a scheduling issue for them because they had another project that they were working on as well,” Piklapp said. He added that the company is coordinating with Midland Power for the necessary power connections.
Piklapp emphasized that the project must remain compliant with the county’s zoning code. “One of the final things that we did ask is that if there are any additional things, it still has to fit within the county code,” he said. “The code was designed as the protections for the community and for the residents of Greene County. If there are any changes or anything has changed from the initial concept that they proposed to us, it still has to fit the county code that was passed. That I do know is going to be the final word on the project.”
The county’s zoning amendment was the result of a series of public hearings in November and December 2025. The Board reviewed a draft ordinance that would allow conditional‑use permits for data centers and cryptocurrency‑mining facilities, addressing issues such as distance from residential areas and environmental impact.
Simple Mining’s original proposal, as outlined in a 2025 filing, called for a $12 million investment. The plan would occupy 15 acres of land and create eight to ten jobs, with an average starting salary of $20,000. The company has not yet submitted final plans to the county, and the permit process has not begun.
The company’s website describes its core services as the sale, hosting, and repair of Bitcoin miners. It also notes that it operates a repair facility and a team of technicians in Cedar Falls.
At this stage, the project remains in the planning phase. The county will review the final design and permit application once Simple Mining submits them. Until that point, the company’s plans are subject to the conditions set out in the amended zoning ordinance.
The development is part of a broader trend of cryptocurrency‑mining firms seeking sites in rural U.S. counties that offer low electricity costs and a supportive regulatory environment. Greene County’s recent ordinance amendment reflects a growing interest in attracting such projects while maintaining community protections.
In summary, Simple Mining has secured a site in Greene County and is working on design and power arrangements. The county’s zoning ordinance now permits data‑center and mining operations, but the company has not yet filed final plans, and the permit process is pending. The county will evaluate the project against its code once the application is submitted.
