Greenidge Bitcoin Mining

Greenidge is an old coal power plant with an already bad environmental history. Once mothballed, it was converted to a gas fired plant for use as a “peaker plant”- to only be used when excess energy was needed by the public, and not run continually. Now, its out of state owners at Atlas Holdings want to expand operations for a privately owned bitcoin operation which would consume enough power to fuel 93,000 homes. That’s bigger than 2 of Amazon’s immense data centers. This facility threatens the health of our air, our water, and the Finger Lakes’ thriving agricultural and tourism-driven economy.

But Greenidge is not an outlier. Proof of Work (PoW) cryptocurrency mining is extremely energy intensive. It can use the same amount of energy as entire countries like Argentina.

Parts of China and India are banning Bitcoin because it is hampering their climate goals, and taking power (electricity) away from the public to use for private Bitcoin operations. Crypto mining’s energy use has increased by 320% in the past 5 years. Nature completed a study in 2018 stating that Bitcoin mining could single-handedly tip us over that 2 degree tipping point that climate scientists warn about.

Energy-intensive, climate busting crypto mining is sweeping through the US as more countries move to ban it. New York is host to nearly 20% of all crypto mining where there is no regulation on this polluting industry.

Seneca Lake Guardian has lead the charge in educating and informing statewide environmental organizations who have formed a coalition to make this a top environmental priority for New York. We’re laser-focused on this issue and our relatively small sized organization lends itself to being nimble enough to act rapidly, when other larger environmental orgs cannot. Seneca Lake Guardian continues to connect with impacted communities across the US and seeks to inform regulations that would prevent this industry from derailing our critical climate goals.

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Greenidge Bitcoin Mining Expansion

Background

Greenidge is an old coal power plant with an already bad environmental history. Once mothballed, it was converted to a gas fired plant for use as a “peaker plant”- toonlybe used when excess energy was needed by the public, and not run continually. Now, its out of state owners at Atlas Holdings want to expand operations for a privately owned bitcoin operation which would consume enough power to fuel 93,000 homes. That’s bigger than 2 of Amazon’s immense data centers.

This Finger Lakes power plant wants to add a Bitcoin mine

With water being traded on the stock exchange, the Finger Lakes continues to fight to protect the largest water body solely within the state’s borders — Seneca Lake — from a savvy new Bitcoin deal that has far-reaching implications across New York.

Greenidge Bitcoin Fracked Gas Power Plant

Action Toolkit

Here are some tips and tools to help us fight the expansion of the Greenidge plant.

Facts Matter

Greenidge Bitcoin Mining Expansion

Greenidge Generation has been hard at work trying to discredit environmental advocates, residents, and business owners who are working to inform the public, by accusing them of spreading false information. We take these attacks on the credibility we’ve spent decades earning seriously, and we must respond to these claims, point by point, because facts matter.

Cryptocurrency Mining, An Emerging and Unregulated Industry?

LISTEN: WRFI Radio and Peter Mantius

Greenidge Generation LLC is a natural gas power plant that’s mining cryptocurrency on an industrial scale, and Greenidge aims to expand its operations.Torrey is a small, rural town in the heart of the Finger Lakes, situated on the west side of Seneca Lake.The Planning Board is reviewing a site plan application for Greenidge at it’s meeting on April 19th.

Town of Torrey Planning Board Approved Greenidge Site Plan in 4-1 Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Town Of Torrey Planning Board Votes To Approve Greenidge’s Buildout Of Bitcoin On Seneca Lake

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that last night, the Town of Torrey Planning Board completely ignored the concerns raised by the community and their legal right to take a number of steps to review the Greenidge build out, and instead voted 4-1 to approve Greenidge's site plan.

What is cryptocurrency mining?

Simply put, cryptocurrency is created as many machines all work to solve the same mathematical equation, or puzzle. The first machine to solve the problem wins. The more machines you have working on the same puzzle, the greater the chances you have of profiting.

Connections: A debate over crypto currency

Listen

Crypto currency has made significant gains in the last six months and is more popular than ever. But to obtain certain forms of currency like Bitcoin, mathematical experts have to perform complex computer equations.

We discuss how it works, why they there is opposition, and why crypto has been so hot.

Important Organizational Sign On Letter

Climate Busting Cryptocurrency

We urge you to sign on to this letter urging New York to take a pause and study the impacts that proof of work cryptocurrency mining has on climate, air, water, and health before it expands across the state. If this issue is not yet on your radar, it absolutely must be now.

Important Actions and Updates on Greenidge Bitcoin Mining Facility

The climate change alarm bells are deafening and we’re seeing the impacts almost daily across the state, country and planet. There are vital actions for you to take in the coming weeks. We need all hands on deck now, if we are to protect our region-and beyond- in the days ahead.
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