Environmental Activists Take Action

On January 13, environmental advocates threw on their superhero capes and filed a lawsuit against the New York Public Service Commission (PSC). The heartbreaking reason? The PSC gave a nod of approval to a cryptocurrency mining facility takeover that activists believe severely undermines New York’s climate goals.

What’s Cooking at the Fortistar Plant?

The sizzling hub of contention is the Fortistar North power plant, conveniently located just a stone’s throw away from the magnificent Niagara Falls in Tonawanda. Renowned for its illustrious past of chugging along at high demand, the plant – now gearing up to transform into an all-hours crypto-mining bonanza – is set to be commandeered by the Canadian company Digihost.

Climate Lawsuits and Cryptocurrency Collide

This melee is partly fueled by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) from 2019. Set out for major goals like slashing emissions by a whopping 85% by 2050 and achieving zero-emission electricity by 2040, NYC’s climate enthusiasts see the facility’s transformation as a direct hit on these aspirations. With the site operating endlessly for cryptocurrency mining, the activists dread seeing greenhouse gases ballooning by as much as 3,000%—talk about a carbon footprint!

Local Voices Speak Up

Representing the frontline in this environmental showdown are the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York and the Sierra Club—armed with legal representation from the nonprofit group Earthjustice. This crusade is not the first of its kind; back in October 2021, local businesses raised their voices, imploring state officials to reject the power plant’s conversion. They issued a strong warning: “Proof-of-Work cryptocurrency mining uses enormous amounts of energy… it could drastically undermine New York’s climate goals.”

Wonders of Renewable Natural Gas

As the dust settles, Digihost has plans claiming they’ll sprinkle a little eco-friendliness on their mining operations by utilizing renewable natural gas. They also flexed their muscles with a stamp of approval from the North Tonawanda planning commission, who conducted environmental reviews before giving their thumbs up. To save a buck, they’re also eyeing a migration of some mining rigs to Alabama—because why not escape the Big Apple’s electricity bills?

Conclusion: What’s Next?

While activists champ at the bit for New York to take a closer look at environmental reviews, Digihost stands by their plans. The outcome remains uncertain, and until clarity surfaces, the crypto currency buzz mix will continue oscillating with environmental concerns. It’s a battle of wallets versus wellness, and everyone’s watching—so hold on to your hard drives!