ALBANY, New York — A gas power plant that primarily fuels a cryptocurrency mining operation on the shore of Seneca Lake can keep operating for at least five years under a deal negotiated with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration.
The 105 megawatt Greenidge plant was denied an air permit renewal in 2022, based on New York’s climate law, but has continued operating amid ongoing litigation. The agreement announced Friday settles the legal dispute, secures an air permit for the plant and requires it to reduce actual emissions.
“This voluntary agreement speaks to our commitment to being a responsible partner with the state – creating high-paying jobs and providing power to the electrical grid,” Greenidge President Dale Irwin said in a statement. “We’re pleased with this tough, fair new permit, and happy to put this process where it has belonged for years – in the rear-view mirror.”
Why it matters: Environmental groups hailed the 2022 denial of a permit for the Greenidge plant, which started Bitcoin mining on the site in 2020, as a major climate victory. The permit approval is likely to spur additional criticism of Hochul from environmentalists as the governor also approved a new gas pipeline Friday.
