Environmental organization Earthjustice has filed a lawsuit against the New York Community Services Commission (PSC), which approved the use of the Fortistar power plant by the mining company Digihost International.
Earthjustice, a non-profit environmental law organization, has filed a lawsuit in Albany County Superior Court, New York. The lawsuit states that PSC approved the transfer of ownership of the use of the New York 55 MW power plant to Digihost International, a cryptocurrency mining company.
The plaintiffs allege that the regulator violated the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) by allowing the company to mine cryptocurrencies based on the Proof-of-Work (PoW) algorithm.
Court documents state that Fortistar North Tonawanda operates only 10 to 74 days a year, releasing relatively small amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. However, with the approval of the PSC, Digihost will be able to operate 24/7 throughout the year, which will increase New York’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 3,500%.
“PSC is failing to fulfill its responsibilities as a regulator, which should protect public health and comply with the requirements of climate laws,” the Earthjustice organizers said in a complaint.
Recall that in March last year, the Committee for Environmental Protection in the state of New York approved a bill for a two-year ban on the mining of cryptocurrencies on the PoW algorithm. However, New York Mayor Eric Adams believes the bill will harm the state’s economy.
Source: Bits
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