Hawkins County receives offer of pro bono legal aid in crypto lawsuit
ROGERSVILLE — The Southern Environmental Law Center offered its pro bono services to Hawkins County, which faces a lawsuit against ExoticRidge Crypto Company.Lawyers from the nonprofit spoke at Monday’s commission meeting. Local attorney Crystal Jessee, who was called to speak by Commissioner Robbie Palmer, introduced the SELC lawyers.
Jessee and Palmer have criticized ExoticRidge’s plans to operate a cryptocurrency mine and data center in Bulls Gap, citing a community-wide concern for residents’ health, resources and way of life.ExoticRidge’s lawsuit follows the Hawkins County Board of Commissioners’ ban of crypto mines and data centers at a September 2025 meeting.
In the months since, ExoticRidge CEO Will Daugherty tried to assuage people’s fears and convince the county to lift its ban. However, at a February meeting, the commission refused to budge.On March 31, the nonprofit Beacon Center of Tennessee filed the lawsuit in federal court on behalf of ExoticRidge. The lawsuit argues that the ban unlawfully targets data centers/crypto mines. It also argues that the commission overstepped its authority and rushed procedures.
Jessee said she and Palmer reached out to SELC — first, about ExoticRidge’s air pollution permits from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and then about the lawsuit. SELC offered to represent the county for free. Jessee said that while she previously offered to represent the county herself, SELC has more expertise on this subject.”As my daddy used to say, sometimes you want to swat a gnat with a hammer,” she said. “Well, ladies and gentlemen — we’re giving you a sledgehammer.”
George Nolan, the director of SELC’s Tennessee office in Nashville, addressed the commission.”[We do] what we can to help communities to protect the pristine landscapes and natural treasures that our state enjoys. One issue that’s a big concern for us is how fast things are changing in our rural communities,” Nolan said. “We’re seeing out-of-state interests come in and change things in a way that’s bad for nature and bad for the rural communities. This ExoticRidge bitcoin mining situation certainly got our attention.”Nolan said he and two other SELC lawyers, Joe DeGaetano and Trey Bussey, visited Bulls Gap today to investigate the issue, talking to people.
The commission had no questions for Nolan, except to reiterate that SELC gets its funding from donations, not client legal fees. Hawkins County Attorney Allen Coup also asked Nolan to share SELC’s standard pro bono agreement.
To receive SELC’s help, the commission must pass a resolution. Instead of suspending this meeting’s rules to introduce an out-of-order resolution, the commission chose to consider the issue in May. If this resolution passes, SELC’s board of trustees must also approve the partnership.ExoticRidge’s Daugherty was not present at Monday’s meeting.
