On One-Year 'Anniversary of Shame' FLX Electeds, Winemakers, and Residents Rally to GET GREENIDGE OUT!

GENEVA, NY (06/28/2023) (readMedia)-- One year ago, on June 30, 2022, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation denied the air permit renewal for Greenidge Generation, the climate-killing crypto-mining plant in the Finger Lakes, because the operation goes against New York's landmark Climate Law. It became a national story and test case for how states should handle the exploitative and extractive crypto-mining industry. But now, a year later, Greenidge is still operating as it appeals that decision. Advocates gathered this morning – as toxic wildfire smoke from the climate change-driven Canadian wildfires shrouds New York – for a press conference and rallied to Get Greenidge Out!

Watch the presser here.

"It's been a year since the DEC denied Greenidge's air permit, but Greenidge is still accelerating climate change, harming our environment, and threatening the Finger Lakes' $3 billion, 60,000-employee local agriculture economy. This failing company goes against everything that makes the Finger Lakes special. We made ourselves heard loud and clear last year, and we're doing it again: Get Out, Greenidge!" said Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian.

As Greenidge operates on an expired permit while it appeals the DEC's decision and faces delisting from the NASDAQ, it continues to harm the community. On Friday, June 16, and throughout that weekend, Greenidge flared polluting gas into the air. See video of the gas flare here, including the flare's high-pitched shrieking sound. A 2022 study found that gas flares produce PM 2.5, the same type of air pollution that's shrouding New York as a result of the Canadian wildfires today, nearly doubling NYC asthma-related emergency room visits. PM 2.5 is linked to a number of health problems including asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory illnesses. Noise pollution also comes with its own health risks – according to a recent report in the New York Times, it's a largely unrecognized health threat that is increasing the risk of hypertension, stroke and heart attacks worldwide, including for more than 100 million Americans.

The issues caused by flared gas only add to the existing climate, environment, and economic damage Greenidge causes. With over 17,000 Bitcoin machines and operations underway to expand to 32,500, Greenidge is on track to emit over one million tons of CO2 each year, equivalent to that of 100,000 homes, at a time when New York's climate law requires us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greenidge is also permitted to extract water from Seneca Lake and dump it back in at much hotter temperatures, increasing the likelihood of toxic algal blooms.

Like the rest of the planet, the Finger Lakes is experiencing the negative impacts of climate change, and it is already impacting the local economy. Fluctuating temperatures this spring caused winemakers to lose large portions of their crops.

"On May 18th the Finger Lakes suffered what some say was the worst spring freeze damage in generations – some vineyards are expected to lose up to 75% of their crop. We know all of this calamity has been building for decades, and unfortunately we can't look back to rewrite the script. But we can stop the hemorrhaging today. Let's continue the fight to close down bitcoin mining and let's Get Greenidge OUT," said Vinny Aliperti, co-owner Billsboro Winery.

Meanwhile, Greenidge is experiencing financial troubles. Its CEO abruptly stepped down in October 2022, and Atlas Holdings, the Connecticut-based private equity firm that owns Greenidge, replaced him with a pair of executives affiliated with the firm. Greenidge later expressed concern that it would run out of cash by March 2022, leading the company to restructure its debt. It is now mining Bitcoin in order to pay back its lenders.

"We deserve clean air and a fossil-free future. In the midst of a climate emergency, expanding fossil fuels like the Greenridge crypto mine is complete madness," said Magnolia Mead, youth climate activist.

Background

New York is the first state to regulate cryptomining, with the historic cryptocurrency mining moratorium that passed in November 2022 and implemented a two-year pause on new and renewed air permits for fossil-fueled power plants that mine cryptocurrency. But this does not apply to Greenidge Generation, which applied for its air permit before the law took effect.

Proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining is an extremely energy intensive process that threatens the ability of governments across the globe to reduce our dependence on climate-warming fossil fuels. Mining requires thousands of machines whirring 24/7 to solve complex equations. The more machines that are running, the faster a coin is mined. Each one of these machines requires energy to run, plus more energy for cooling. According to a new Guidebook from Earthjustice and the Sierra Club, from July 2021-22 Bitcoin mining in the U.S. alone consumed as much electricity as four states combined, emitting as much as 6 million cars annually. The White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy recently put out a groundbreaking report that confirms proof-of-work cryptomining is incompatible with federal and local emissions reductions goals, and it cannot continue unabated.

Cryptocurrency mining facilities are major emitters of air pollutants. And when cryptocurrency miners rely on the public grid, they can stick everyday people with the bill. A 2021 study estimates "the power demands of cryptocurrency mining operations in upstate New York push up annual electric bills by about $165 million for small businesses and $79 million for individuals." Powering Bitcoin mining with renewables is not a viable solution, as renewables supply cannot possibly meet the extreme energy demands of Bitcoin mining in addition to daily necessities such as heating and cooling homes and running cars. Any renewable energy that supports Bitcoin mining is renewable energy that is being diverted from the public grid.

At an Environmental Conservation budget hearing when asked about the potential impact of the escalating cryptocurrency mining activity in upstate NY on the states energy grid, the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President Doreen Harris stated, "There could be a very significant impact on NY load resulting from cryptocurrency mining depending on the penetration of the resource."

Cryptomining is also at odds with the overwhelmingly popular amendment to the state constitution passed last year, which guarantees every New Yorker the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment. Revitalizing old polluting power plants for private financial gain, with drastic consequences for our air, water and climate, all while causing huge amounts of noise pollution, is now unconstitutional - and ought to be treated as such.

About Seneca Lake Guardian

Seneca Lake Guardian is a New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation with 501(c)(3) and is dedicated to preserving and protecting the health of the Finger Lakes, its residents and visitors, its rural community character, and its agricultural and tourist related businesses through public education, citizen participation, engagement with decision makers, and networking with like-minded organizations.