The Bitcoin Battle Makes It's Way to the DEC Headquarters
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AVON, N.Y.(WENY)-- For months local officials, environmental groups, and activists throughout the Finger Lakes region, have been trying to put a stop to Bitcoin Mining in New York; specifically, the focus has remained on Greenidge Generations large Bitcoin mining operation on Seneca Lake.
A mixture of 100 hundred activists, politicians, and community members attended a rally outside of the Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Headquarters in Avon New York, to ask the DEC to reject Greenidge Generations title V air permit renewal.
“Greenidge is a problem right now and that permit is up for renewal in September and they must take into consideration, the full environmental impact of what that expansion will do to our futures, our lakes, our air, our children,” said Kelles.
In a reply to WENY News, the DEC said they received an application from Greenidge on March 5th, 2021 for the renewal of the Air Title IV (Acid Rain) and Title V air permits.
“ The DEC is now conducting a rigorous review to determine if the application is complete and would meet the federal and state standards that are protective of public health and the environment, including consistency with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”
Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of the Seneca Lake Guardian believes that the DEC failed the region when they allowed Greenidge Generation LLC to turn back on the shuttered power plant.
“The DEC completely failed when a new facility came into a mothballed coal power plant that had been closed for seven years and rather than following proper state and environmental quality review act protocol, they simply reissued the old permits,” said Taylor.
A final decision is expected to be made on Greenidge’s permit applications in September and if the applications are considered complete, a public comment period would follow to solicit input before the final decision was made. The U.S. EPA would also have the chance to review the proposed permit.
While attendees expressed that the most timely issue was convincing the DEC to decline the permit renewals, Assemblywomen, Dr. Anna Kelles, and New York State Senator Rachel May attended the rally to ask the public to help push two bills that are currently working their way through the Senate.
“We shouldn't be reusing old power plants for new purposes without a full environmental review,” said May. “This is an issue on Seneca Lake but it is also an issue, there are a lot of disused power plants all around the state.”
Bill 7768, which is currently making its way through the Senate floor would stop companies like Greenidge Generation LLC, from reactivating shuttered power plants and grandfathering in previously used permits.
In a letter to the DEC, nonprofit organization, EarthJustice, pointed out that there are around thirty other shuttered power plants that have the potential to be turned into Bitcoin mining operations similar to Greenidge Generation.
“One of them is to put a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining and proof or work and the other one is to attack it in the other direction and say we shouldn't be reusing old power plants for new purposes without a full environmental review,” said May.
As May said, the second bill presented by Dr. Anna Kelles would put a moratorium on Bitcoin mining in New York state. Kelles said it is important to note that she is not anti cryptocurrency but she is anti cryptocurrency mining.
“We are not addressing proof of Stack, we are not addressing proof of authority, it doesn't need a mining facility, you could do that on your laptop,” said Kelles.” So when you say mining center, cryptocurrency mining center is literally synonymous with a proof of work model.”
Kelles presented this bill following Greenidge Generations approved expansion which will allow the facility to add four new buildings and will be home to approximately 10,000 bitcoin mining machines.
“That bill must go through this session, it must, must because it will slow things down, which I am going to fight with my last breath to push both of them through and all of you are going to do it with me,” said Kelles. “We have four days left to get both of these through.”
While this fight seems to have been going on for a long time already, activists and politicians say that this is only the beginning of an end for cryptocurrency mining not only in New York but throughout the United States.
“ If you wanted to define sustainability by what it is not, you would say cryptocurrency mining is the exact opposite of sustainability,” said May. “We have to take this fight statewide and maybe then nationally,” said May.
If you are unfamiliar with what cryptocurrency is or would like to learn more about Greenidge Generation, you can follow the link below and check out WENY’s investigative series, Mining Controversy: The Bitcoin Battle.
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