Dozens of residents and business owners from across the Finger Lakes region voiced concerns Wednesday over the environmental impact of cryptocurrency mining during the first of eight statewide hearings on the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for proof-of-work operations in New York.
The virtual hearing, held midday, drew nearly 50 participants, with 27 individuals offering public comments. Speakers came from communities including Endicott, Rochester, Geneva, Hector, Interlaken, and Ithaca, many directing their criticism at Greenidge Generation’s cryptomining facility on the shores of Seneca Lake.
Yvonne Taylor, vice president of Seneca Lake Guardian and a founding member of the National Coalition Against Cryptomining, warned that continued expansion of proof-of-work mining could “make it nearly impossible to meet New York’s climate goals under the CLCPA.” She described the industry as an energy-intensive burden that emits pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene while depleting natural resources and offering “little to no economic benefit.”
“Proof of Work crypto is incompatible with our region, our state and our future,” Taylor said during her remarks.
The DGEIS, prepared by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, outlines the potential statewide impacts of proof-of-work cryptomining and offers a range of regulatory options, including an outright ban. Written comments are being accepted through September 25 at [email protected] under the subject line “Crypto Draft GEIS.”
Public hearings in other regions of the state are scheduled in the coming weeks.
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