Saturday alongside a group of environmental advocates, residents, business owners, and Seneca Lake Guardian gathered on the Geneva lakefront to mark three years since the Department of Environmental Conservation denied an air permit for Greenidge Generation, a fossil fuel-burning power plant repurposed for cryptomining iin Dresden. Three years later, the facility continues to operate under expired permits. The group rallied to demand stronger action against the harmful environmental impacts of cryptocurrency mining in New York.
A recording of the rally can be found here.
Speakers at the rally included Yvonne Taylor of Seneca Lake Guardian, Liz Moran of Earthjustice, Jackie Sawicky of the National Coalition Against Cryptomining, Vinny Aliperti of Billsboro Winery. Each attendee urged the State to close loopholes that allow polluting facilities like Greenidge to sidestep enforcement, undermining the progress New York has made in tackling the climate crisis.
The Greenidge cryptomining facility has done significant environmental harm to the Finger Lakes region. By burning fracked gas to power its highly energy-intensive operations, the facility emits millions of pounds of climate-warming carbon dioxide each year. It also discharges heated water into Seneca Lake on a daily basis, threatening the lake’s delicate ecosystem and water quality. These ongoing impacts endanger not only the environment but also the health and well-being of surrounding communities.
“We applaud the DEC for standing behind our climate law and denying Greenidge’s air permit, but our community is outraged by Greenidge’s delay tactics that force our community to keep dealing with its emissions, disruption and a lack of accountability, three long years after its permit was denied,” said Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Seneca Lake Guardian, a grassroots environmental group in the Finger Lakes Region. “It’s imperative that New York stands behind our climate law and defends communities at the frontlines who deserve clean air and water. We’re proud to join our neighbors and elected officials as we hold companies like Greenidge responsible and protect the environmental safety of our region.”
Seneca Lake Guardian, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting the health of the Finger Lakes for residents, visitors and businesses, has led the charge in educating and informing statewide environmental organizations who have formed a coalition to make the harms of cryptomining a top environmental priority for New York.
The Finger Lakes rally highlighted the detrimental impacts of cryptomining on local air and water quality, energy consumption and community health. Proof-of-work cryptomining accounts for up to 2.3% of total energy usage in the US, resulting in an estimated $1 billion increase in cost to ratepayers, destabilizing the energy grid, increasing electricity rates and significantly harming people and the environment. Residents also pointed to the broader risks of allowing fossil-fueled cryptomining to proliferate across the state.
“Not only are we calling upon our leaders to support the Finger Lakes region and hold Greenidge accountable, we’re looking to set a precedent that protects communities across New York,” said Jackie Sawicky, a member of the National Coalition Against Cryptomining. “Doing so requires the continued support and shared mission of our elected officials, environmental advocates and all in our community who deserve to live in a clean environment.”
“Cryptomining operations are wreaking havoc on communities in New York and across the country, and they’re getting away with it,” said Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate for the Earthjustice Northeast Regional Office. “Three years after the state rightly denied Greenidge Generation’s air permit, these cryptomining polluters continue to push the limits of the law and weaponize the legal system with impunity. New York State leaders must stop stalling and start enforcing our nation-leading climate law by holding Greenidge accountable. The Finger Lakes community is fighting back, and we stand with them.”
“Greenidge Generation’s GHG emissions and unfettered discharges into Seneca Lake has a direct impact on the Finger Lakes region and the businesses that make it a world-class destination for New Yorkers and visitors,” said Vinny Aliperti, owner of Billsboro Winery. “We are proud to work with so many dedicated winegrowers who respect the land and provide us with sustainably grown grapes. It’s a shame that Greenidge continues to pollute this area and cause disruption in our community, and I encourage New York leaders to take this anniversary as an important call to action.”
Photos by Greg Cotterill, Finger Lakes Daily News
In addition to ensuring New York State upholds climate laws, the advocates, residents and policy leaders are calling on Greenidge Generation to cease its operations and protect New York’s environment and communities over its profits.
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.
