| Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are “mined” in energy-intensive operations — power plants burn fossil fuels to meet the massive electricity needs of cryptocurrency creation and transactions. And right now, cryptocurrency-mining operators are trying to fire up some of New York’s dirtiest retired power plants. We should be doing everything we can to move New York off fossil fuels; we can’t afford to repower dirty fracked gas power plants. And especially not for cryptocurrency. We can stop this, but we need the Legislature to place a moratorium on these energy-intensive operations now. As we look ahead to the start of the legislative session, now is the time to let your state legislators know that they must prioritize stopping cryptocurrency mining using the energy-intensive “proof of work” method of authentication. We’ve already seen the Greenidge fracked gas power plant in the Finger Lakes come back online to power a bitcoin-mining facility. Without immediate action, Greenidge could be just the tip of the iceberg. Cryptocurrency-mining operations consume more electricity than entire nations. Dirty old power plants have been shuttered across New York, and cryptocurrency-mining operators have their sights on them to run the computers necessary for their operations. The good news: We can stop these operations in their tracks. Earlier this year, we fell just short of passing a moratorium through both houses of the state legislature. We can pass the crypto-mining moratorium early in the 2022 session, but it’s going to take all of us pushing to make it happen. What you can do to help: 1. Please contact your Assembly Member today. Send your message here! 2. Call Governor Hochul at 866-942-5138 and urge her to stop all cryptocurrency-mining projects powered by fracked gas. Thank you for your efforts! We fought hard to prevent fracked gas drilling in New York State. And we can fight to ensure we don’t burn fracked gas to mine crypto. Thanks to Food & Water Watch for sharing this message! Photo credit: WENY News |
Sustainable Finger Lakes
Weaving Together the Regional Movement
