A rally held this weekend in the Finger Lakes brought together lawmakers and environmental advocates, as a crypto mine in Yates County has been raising concerns for some residents.   

They are urging the state to eliminate loopholes that they say allow corporations to sidestep pollution enforcement.

What You Need To Know

  • Seneca Lake Guardian hosted a rally alongside local leaders and state officials to bring to the forefront the ongoing environmental concerns related to the Greenidge Generation power plant and cryptocurrency mining operation on Seneca Lake

  • The existing permits authorize Greenidge to extract as much as 139 million gallons of lake water each day and to discharge it at temperatures reaching 108 degrees Fahrenheit, a situation that environmentalists caution could promote the growth of detrimental algal blooms

  • Advocates also warn that air-dispersion modeling indicates that formaldehyde and benzene are dispersing across 32 adjacent vineyards and neighboring farms that are posing a threat to the tourism, residents and agriculture sectors that are vital to the economy of the Finger Lakes

“On the shores of Seneca Lake [is] a place that represents what's at stake in our fight for clean water, a pristine environment and a thriving tourism-based economy and a future we could be proud of,” Seneca Lake Guardian president Joseph Campbell said.

It's a fight that has been recurring for years. 

“We're here today because three years ago we were celebrating the denial of the Greenidge permit on the grounds that it violated New York's climate law,” Seneca Lake Guardian vice president Yvonne Taylor said. “And yet, here we are, three years later. And this fossil fuels Bitcoin mine is still operating. How is that possible?”

Greenidge is the first vertically integrated power generator and Bitcoin miner of scale in the United States. According to its website, the facility provides a source of power to New York state’s energy grid, providing the electricity necessary to power up to 20,000 homes and businesses. However, throughout its operations, this has alarmed community members and lawmakers alike.

“We can't afford pollution from private corporations for their own gain,” New York policy advocate of Earthjustice Liz Moran said. “While we all suffer from their noise, from their raising our energy costs, and from the dirty air and water pollution that they cause. Crypto mining jeopardizes not only our local communities, [but] it jeopardizes our landmark state climate law. It is so energy-consuming that we're going to cause more pollution in other communities.”

Despite the state Department of Environmental Conservation denying a permit renewal in 2022, critics say Greenidge has persisted in its operations while contesting the decision in court. Advocates have found that Greenidge has not only impacted their waters, but also its local businesses, like Billsboro Winery. 

“It's not just carbon emissions that we're worried about,” Billsboro Winery owner Vinny Aliperti said. “And even though that is a big concern. Thermal pollution, as we know, is a big concern. But as was just recently, unveiled in a study, Greenidge is also raining down toxic pollutants over vineyards, over area vineyards and residence, including formaldehyde and benzene.”

Seneca Lake Guardian, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting the health of the Finger Lakes for residents, visitors and businesses, has led the charge in educating and informing statewide environmental organizations who have formed a coalition to make the harms of crypto mining a top environmental priority for New York.

Seneca Lake Guardian has reported that Greenidge emits millions of pounds of climate-warming carbon dioxide each year. It also discharges heated water into Seneca Lake on a daily basis, threatening the lake’s delicate ecosystem and water quality.

“The Finger Lakes are among New York’s most valued natural resources, and we must protect them, not just for us, but for future generations,” said state Sen. Rachel May. “Permitting a fossil-fueled Bitcoin mining operation like Greenidge to continue polluting our air and water after a permit denial undermines the values we cherish: clean water, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable local economies. This isn’t just about a single facility. It’s about preserving our environmental protections to safeguard our drinking water, agriculture, tourism, and quality of life.”

Organizers driven by stress, but united by its ongoing bitter battle.

“It matters,” Taylor said. “Your voice matters. And we won't stop fighting until the Finger Lakes is free from this and all other corporate menaces. Once and for all.”

Advocates hope their local action and widespread education will make a change in their home and for their environment.

Spectrum News 1 has reached out to Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. for comment.

The state DEC has arranged for an evidentiary hearing regarding this issue at its Albany office from June 24-27. However, organizers say the hearing was postponed until another few weeks and will be accessible to the public.