DRESDEN, N.Y.(WENY)-- Monday, April 19th the Town of Torrey Planning Board voted in a four to one decision to allow Greenidge Generation to move forward with its expansion proposal. 

This proposal will allow Greenidge Generation to build four buildings on the west side of its electrical generation plant. Dale Irwin, CEO and president of Greenidge Generation said all four of these buildings will be home to around ten thousand bitcoin mining machines, adding to the already existing 7,000 bitcoin mining machines and add about 12 long-term jobs. 

The meeting was attended by around fifty individuals, half in opposition to the proposal and a half for the proposal. 

The meeting took place from 7 PM to around 9:50 PM with the majority of the meeting consisting of public comment where planning board members had to repeatedly remind attendees that the comments must remain on topic. Many of the off-topic comments were surrounded around issues that the Department of Environmental Conservation handles such as greenhouse gas emissions, discharging high water temperatures into the Keuka Outlet, and water intake and outtake levels. 

Environmental groups and members in opposition were concerned that passing this proposal would result in the facility producing more greenhouse gas emissions. While permits were already in place that allows the facility to operate at its full potential, the addition of these four new buildings will provide the facility with the space to add more bitcoin mining machines; which will inevitably use more power and produce more emissions. The proposal does align with the facility's air and SPDES permits issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

In a response to WENY News the DEC said: 

“As part of DEC’s aggressive oversight of this facility and their compliance with our stringent regulatory requirements, DEC is closely monitoring the operations of Greenidge Generation, a bitcoin mining operation in Torrey, New York, and current proposals for its expansion. In addition to ensuring continued compliance with DEC’s current permits for the facility, DEC will ensure a comprehensive and transparent review of its proposed air permit renewals with a particular focus on the potential climate change impacts and consistency with the nation-leading emissions limits established in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. As the greenhouse gas emissions associated with this type of facility may be precedential and have broader implications beyond New York’s borders, DEC will consult with the U.S. EPA, the Climate Action Council, and others as we thoroughly evaluate the complex issues involved.”

The environmental groups and members in opposition were also requesting that this site plan proposal be put on pause until further studies of noise pollution, water pollution and emissions could be done. Some even warned the planning board that if they move forward with the decision to pass this proposal further legal action will be taken. In November when the Town of Torrey originally voted to pass the proposal environmental groups filed a lawsuit against both the Town of Torrey and Greenidge Generation. 

Members of the planning board did decide while going through the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act that they would require Greenidge Generation to do more detailed noise studies. The facility is currently allowed to emit noise levels below 72 decibels in the daytime and 50 decibels in the nighttime. 

In November the Town of Torrey had passed this proposal with a supermajority vote of 4-1 but Yates County voted against the proposal which ultimately sent the proposal back to the Town of Torrey for a revote. 

The four new buildings will have concrete slab foundations and will be positioned end to end on the south side of the old west parking lot.