Environmental activists are criticizing Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration for delaying a decision over air pollution permits for a repurposed power plant in the Finger Lakes. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, announced it’s pushing back its deadline on whether to renew Greenidge Generation’s permits until late June.
The environmental regulator has been skeptical of the facility’s Bitcoin mining operation, which constitutes most of its greenhouse gas emissions. Yvonne Taylor is vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian – one of the groups opposed to Greenidge. She accused Hochul of playing politics by delaying the decision until after the June primary election.
"This is an apparent attempt to cover her own political interests and a complete abdication of her responsibility.”
Taylor urged the state legislature to pass legislation implementing a temporary moratorium on some cryptocurrency mining, like is being done at Greenidge.
The company maintains that its operation is consistent with the state’s climate goals. In a letter to the DEC it proposed a commitment to eliminate carbon emissions at the Finger Lakes plant by 2030. To read more about what Finger Lakes advocates have to say about the crypto mining plant click here to read a story from WAER's John Smith.