Protestors Criticize New York Crypto-Mining Facility One Year After Permit Denial

June 29 (UPI) — Demonstrators in New York City protested against a cryptocurrency mining company operating in the Finger Lakes region, despite being denied an air permit renewal by state regulators. Greenidge Generation, the company in question, engages in verifying cryptocurrency transactions and adding them to the blockchain. The protestors argue that this situation highlights how states should handle the exploitative and extractive crypto-mining industry. Greenidge continues to operate as it appeals the denial, with protestors claiming that this is accelerating climate change, harming the environment, and posing a threat to the agritourism economy of the Finger Lakes, which is valued at $3 billion and employs 60,000 individuals.

Greenidge, on its website, presents itself as a company committed to environmental and community stewardship. It asserts that it has the necessary permits to function as a power generation facility and data processing center that mines bitcoin, citing the expertise of its cryptocurrency industry professionals and power plant management veterans. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation denied Greenidge’s permit, stating that the company failed to comply with the requirements of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Regulators received approximately 4,000 public comments regarding the company’s permit application.