Simple Mining · Cedar Falls, Iowa
Good Neighbor Facts
Who we are, what we build, and what it means for your community.
Who We Are
A Homegrown Midwest Company
Simple Mining was founded in 2021 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list. We operate flexible, curtailable load across 10 Iowa sites and employ 70+ people in high-tech jobs with full benefits: employer-paid health insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.
In plain language: we use excess electricity to run computers. And we turn our equipment off when the utility grid needs the power.
What We Build
A Demand-Response Resource
A demand-response resource (DRR) is a large power customer that can shut down on command when the local utility needs the power back. That flexibility is what we provide to the grid.
We run computers. When the utility calls, we turn them off, with about 90% power reduction and under-30-minute response, as little as 2 minutes.
We are a community-focused, long-term investor, open to long-term leases or land purchases that demonstrate our commitment to the community.
No financial risk to the city. We post a surety bond to protect ratepayers. If the project moves forward, the community gains revenue. If not, the only cost is a little staff time.
We run on the surplus when renewable generation tops demand, and curtail when demand peaks so the grid gets the power.
A Win-Win-Win
What Your Community Gets
Win No. 1
The Grid
90% curtailable load with under-30-minute response, as little as 2 minutes. 99% power factor and load factor, registered as a Demand Response Resource. We run on excess renewable energy and turn off when the grid needs us to.
Win No. 2
Local Investment
Base loads help fund infrastructure. Large, steady customers spread fixed grid costs across more users, which benefits every ratepayer in town.
Win No. 3
Jobs & Education
Full-time jobs at launch, with a goal of hiring local for roles like micro-soldering and technical site management, backed by one of the largest certified ASIC repair centers in North America.
Sound, Managed
Quieter Than You'd Think
Our sites run at 50–55 dB, about the level of a household refrigerator or quiet conversation.
We use the same dry cooler technology as grocery stores, in a closed-loop, hydro-cooled glycol system that is waterless and quieter, similar to a residential ground-source heat pump.
At our most recent project, residents strongly opposed the site before construction. Once complete, residents didn't realize it had been operational for months.
No / Low Water Use
Water Stays in the Tap
Our closed-loop cooling uses zero evaporative water, with no draw on municipal supply for operations.
💧 Our largest water use is employee restrooms.
Annual U.S. water use, for scale
Sources: LBNL / DOE 2024 · GCSAA 2025 · EPA WaterSense
The Good-Neighbor Record
Don't Take Our Word for It
Independent data shows the common concerns don't hold up: Iowa's inflation-adjusted electric rates fell as base loads grew (U.S. Dept. of Energy / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). More large customers spread fixed costs wider, which means lower rates for households.
Professional, transparent, and constructive… clear communication, integrity… willing to modify aspects of its design to address potential concerns raised by area residents.
Dependable, respectful, and committed to their community… invested in long-term improvements rather than short-term fixes.
FAQ
Common Questions
Do data centers raise electric bills?
The independent data says the opposite in Iowa's case. Iowa's inflation-adjusted electric rates fell as base loads grew (DOE / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). Large, steady customers spread the grid's fixed costs across more users, which puts downward pressure on household rates.
Do data centers use a lot of water?
Ours doesn't. Our closed-loop cooling uses zero evaporative water. The largest water use at our sites is employee restrooms. Nationally, all U.S. data centers combined use about 1/31st the water of golf courses and 1/130th the water of lawn watering.
How loud is a Bitcoin mining site?
Our hydro-cooled sites run at 50–55 dB, comparable to a household refrigerator. We use the same dry cooler technology as grocery stores, in a closed-loop glycol system similar to a residential ground-source heat pump.
What is a demand-response resource?
A large power customer that can shut down on command when the utility needs the power back. Simple Mining operates as a registered Demand Response Resource with about 90% power reduction and under-30-minute response, which helps the grid absorb more wind and solar.
What does the community get out of it?
Grid stability, local investment that helps fund infrastructure, and full-time high-tech jobs with full benefits, with a surety bond posted so there is no financial risk to the city.
Are data centers bad for the environment?
Ours is built to minimize impact. We run on excess renewable energy and curtail when the grid is tight, our cooling is closed-loop with zero evaporative water, and our land footprint is a fraction of golf courses or residential lawns. Flexible load like ours actually helps the grid absorb more wind and solar.