The court’s decision is a victory for Greenidge, which began mining cryptocurrency in the Finger Lakes region four years ago. The power plant’s operation has repeatedly drawn criticism from local residents and environmental activists, who complained that due to the proximity of mining facilities to Seneca Lake, the temperature of the water in the reservoir was greatly increasing.
In 2022, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) revoked the coal-fired power plant’s operating license due to its high carbon dioxide emissions. The department explained its refusal by saying that Greenidge’s activities contradict the state’s climate change initiative. However, Judge Vincent Dinolfo explained that DEC did not give Greenidge the opportunity to justify its alleged violations.
The department disagreed with the court’s decision, saying the power plant misled regulators. Instead of taking into account the state’s current energy needs, the facility operates only to enrich itself, increasing the energy load, DEC noted. Mandy DeRoche, associate senior attorney for the environmental nonprofit Earthjustice, intends to continue fighting Greenidge until the power plant finally stops mining.
“The court’s decision will ensure that we continue to mine and that our employees will not lose their jobs due to politically motivated government intervention that had no legal basis,” Greenidge Generation commented.
In October, residents of Texas filed a collective complaint against the mining company Marathon Digital due to noise violations from the operation of ASIC miners. The plaintiffs noted a deterioration in their health and mental disorders.
Source: Bits
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