The growth of cryptomining threatens to keep polluting coal-fired power plants active, strain the grid, and raise electricity rates for Hoosiers.

The plant’s air permit application was denied after community members fought back, with help from Earthjustice.

The ruling finds that Greenidge Generation’s crypto mining pollution operations are inconsistent with and will interfere with the greenhouse gas emissions limits of New York’s Climate Law (the CLCPA), as the DEC found in June 2022

Earthjustice represents public interest groups in Kentucky

The rapid growth of cryptomining threatens to strain Texas’s grid and raise electricity rates for Texans.

Cryptocurrency companies are burning waste coal, shredded tires, and fracked gas.

Kentucky produces more carbon dioxide pollution from cryptocurrency mining than any other U.S. state.

Liz Moran, Policy Advocacy, Northeast Office: “We need to stop relying on fossil fuels to address the climate crisis. Cryptocurrency mining keeps us in the hole, it does not dig us out.”

Thom Cmar, Attorney, Clean Energy Program, Earthjustice: “Hardworking people shouldn’t have to pay higher utility bills so that a cryptocurrency company can get millions in subsidies they don’t deserve.”

Millions of dollars in subsidies for a cryptomining company could have raised electricity bills for other customers

A Carbon County, PA, cryptocurrency mine recently submitted a permit application for co-firing “Tire-derived Fuel;” which will increase dangerous amounts of air toxics for the surrounding community

Air pollution spikes at cryptomining plant in Carbon County

Comments submitted by Earthjustice, Clean Air Council and PennFuture to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) urging the department to deny a plantwide pollution bubble for operations at the Panther Creek power plant, a waste coal-fired power plant now home to thousands of bitcoin mining machines. The environmental organizations cited in their comments the Department’s proposed action on an obsolete permit application that did not reflect Panther Creek’s transformation to cryptomining operations, and related increases in pollution.

Charles McPhedran, Attorney, Clean Energy Program, Earthjustice: “The question is whether DEP can make a forceful response to rogue crypto operators.”

The Public Service Commission’s decision to allow Digihost’s and Fortistar’s transaction will result in increased demand for the gas plant, resulting in a dramatic increase in its greenhouse gas emissions and interfering with New York’s achievement of its greenhouse gas limits.

Hillary Aidun, Attorney, Northeast Office: “The public service commission decided to approve the cryptocurrency purchase of a gas plant in North Tonawanda without doing that analysis that is required under the climate law… we are seeking to hold them accountable.”

Dror Ladin, Attorney, Northeast Office: “The law says you can’t just ignore these really serious consequences. Running the plant 24 hours a day to mine crypto is going to be very bad both for the climate and for people in the area.”

The lawsuit contests the Public Service Commission’s) declaratory ruling allowing a proposed transaction between Fortistar North Tonawanda, LLC and Digihost, Inc. to proceed in contravention of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act).