Letter to Michael Regan, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency - Citing Environmental Concerns, Schumer Calls on Epa to Review Air Permit for Greenidge Power Plant Cryptocurrency Mining Facility; Senator Reveals Emisions from Plant Have Recently Increased Tenfold, and With Ownership Planning to Expand Virtual Mining Operation, Pollution from Mining Will Only Increase

Letter

Dear Administrator Regan:

I write to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exercise its oversight powers in evaluating the renewal of the Title V Clean Air Act permit currently under consideration for the cryptocurrency mining operations at the Greenidge Generation plant (Greenidge) in Dresden, New York. This mining operation represents a new type of business that pollutes like a normal powerplant but does not provide the same public benefit of powering homes and businesses. As such, EPA must take a close look at this permit renewal process and the environmental and public health impact on New Yorkers, and ultimately all Americans.

As you may know, Greenidge was originally licensed through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and EPA as a natural gas-fired power plant, providing energy to the surrounding communities. Under New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which I supported, power plants like Greenidge will need to phase out over the coming decades. But the Greenidge facility has begun ramping up electricity production in order to meet the energy demand of a new cryptocurrency mining operation underway at the site. This power is not going to people's homes, but rather to make a profit for the project's investors. Recent research by Earthjustice and Sierra Club indicate that this has increased emissions nearly tenfold. There are also reports that the plant's ownership plans to continue expanding its cryptocurrency mining operation, which would only further increase emissions, and fly counter to New York's, and the president's, climate goals.

Currently, powerplants like Greenidge are allowed to spew greenhouse gases and some level of particulate matter into the air, and heated water into waterways, because they provide us the public good of powering our homes, businesses and more. The EPA and NYSDEC regulate such plants to keep these negative impacts on our health and the environment to a minimum, while maximizing the public good. Greenidge's new business model raises serious concerns because as emissions rise, the public good remains the same. With the plant's emissions on the rise, EPA should review both its Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permits in light of this new mismatch between public good and public impact, and in the context of the presidents' and New York State's climate goals.

Therefore, I urge the EPA to exercise its oversight powers and evaluate Greenidge's Title V Clean Air Act permit application closely in light of the new cryptocurrency mining operation and its attendant air and water emissions.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my staff with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

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