Seneca Lake Guardian Responds to LG Candidate Delgado's Cryptomining Debate Comments

ALBANY, NY (06/15/2022) (readMedia)-- At tonight's Lieutenant Governor debate on NY1/Spectrum, Antonio Delgado was asked about the influence of his crypto donors on his position regarding whether or not the Governor should sign a popular, two year pause on cryptomining at fossil fuel plants. In response, Delgado said that it should be "considered, full stop," while claiming not to know the donors to a $1 million SuperPAC supporting him.

Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian, issued the following statement:

"We're in the middle of a climate crisis that demands urgent action. The Legislature moved to pass a needed pause on fossil fuel power plants used for climate killing cryptomining, which has broad bi-partisan support from local leaders, scientists, and most importantly the public. We don't have time for the Lieutenant Governor to wait around "considering" what to do until his donors tell him. The answer is clear: the Governor needs to put New Yorkers first by signing the bill asap and denying Greenidge Generation's air permits. Full Stop."

As Governor Hochul continues to delay any decision around cryptomining, she has accepted campaign donations from crypto billionaires, who are also spending millions on a SuperPAC to support her Lieutenant Governor candidate, as well as on lobbyists.

Meanwhile, support for the bill is growing. Just last night, in the first major showings of bipartisan support for a cryptomining moratorium and denial of Greenidge Generation's air permits, Seneca County Republican and Democratic leaders unanimously urged Governor Hochul to stop delaying and protect New York from climate-killing cryptomining. Seneca County is just across Seneca Lake from Yates County, where Greenidge Generation is threatening the climate, natural resources, and local economy. Governor Hochul and the DEC have ample authority to deny Greenidge's permits under the nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, recently affirmed by Judge Robert A. Onofry in his decision regarding Danskammer Energy LLC.