No Fracked Gas for Crypto-Mining

Cryptocurrency-mining operators are firing up old fossil fuel power plants to drive their energy-intensive operations.

Burning gas for Bitcoin means more fracking, air and water pollution for local communities, and dangerous consequences for our climate.

The good news: The State Assembly approved legislation that would place an immediate moratorium on cryptocurrency mining that burns fossil fuels for the energy intensive "proof-of-work" method of authentication. With the Greenidge fracked gas plant in the Finger Lakes already operating, we need that moratorium now.

We need to pass the bill in the State Senate by June 2 – when the legislative session ends – to send it to Governor Hochul's desk.

Sign below to tell your state senator to stop these polluting crypto-mining operations now. With signs of the growing climate crisis all around us, we can't afford to go backward.

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No Fracked Gas for Bitcoin Mining!

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Dear Senator,

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I urge you to champion Senator Parker's bill to place a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining burning fossil fuels (S6486D) and to urge leadership to pass the bill before the end of the legislative session on June 2. This bill was recently approved by the Assembly. Thankfully, the Senate passed the bill last year, but according to the rules, it must do so again.

Cryptocurrency mining operations using "proof-of-work" authentication methods are incredibly energy intensive, and the amount of electricity the industry uses is growing at a breakneck pace. This mining activity threatens to undo much of our progress in shutting down some of the state’s dirtiest power plants.

The Greenidge power plant in the heart of the Finger Lakes is currently powering a Bitcoin mining facility by burning fracked gas -- and that facility could be just the tip of the iceberg. There are an estimated 30 similar power plants in New York the industry could target for repowering to provide electricity for cryptocurrency mining operations. In fact, operators are already targeting facilities in North Tonawanda and Watkins Glen.

Cryptocurrency mining operations pose a tremendous threat to the climate goals mandated by New York’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), with the potential to undermine the state’s efforts to slash greenhouse gas emissions while promoting fracking in neighboring states. We simply cannot allow that to happen.

Establishing an immediate moratorium on cryptocurrency mining using "proof-of-work" authentication, while completing a comprehensive study of its impacts on the climate and the environment more broadly is a prudent and necessary action.

Please fight for passage of S6486D before the legislative session ends this year.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]