Protests towards Greenidge Era’s plans to increase its Bitcoin mining operation on Seneca Lake morphed right into a statewide difficulty in 2021. (Vaughn Golden/WSKG)
WSKG is looking again at a number of the most urgent environmental points from the previous 12 months and the way they might transfer ahead in 2022.
VESTAL, NY (WSKG) — A debate over cryptocurrency mining on Seneca Lake become a broader check of New York state’s local weather legislation. That check is more likely to come to a head in 2022.
After a failed attempt on the tail finish of the legislature’s session in 2021, lawmakers are crafting a proposal to put a moratorium on some vitality intensive cryptocurrency technology operations. Environmental activists are apprehensive about emissions from large-scale mining operations and the way which will decelerate the state’s progress at combating local weather change.
The legislative effort was largely spurred by protests over Greenidge Era, a pure gas-burning energy plant and cryptocurrency mining operation on Seneca Lake in Yates County.
Moreover, the New York DEC is contemplating whether or not to resume an air air pollution allow for Greenidge.
The environmental regulator is anxious the pure gas-burning energy plant will stop the state from reaching its objectives to cut back greenhouse fuel emissions, as enshrined below the Local weather Management and Group Safety Act or CLCPA.
“I believe that the Greenidge web site is, you understand, has actually served as a check case for a way severe the CLCPA legislation goes to be taken by Gov. Hochul and Commissioner Seggos,” Yvonne Taylor, vp of Seneca Lake Guardian, one of many earliest environmental activist teams to attract consideration to Greenidge.
Greenidge has rallied assist in response to the criticisms towards it. One of many firm’s strongest allies is the state’s electrical employee’s union, the IBEW.
“These mining amenities will want common upkeep and upgrades because the expertise advances, creating building jobs together with these for IBEW members,” Addie Jenne, a lobbyist for {the electrical} employee’s union told a state Assembly panel earlier this yr.
The DEC’s resolution, which may very well be issued as early as this month, may reflect a new standard for giant emitters within the state once they apply to resume air air pollution permits.
