Bitcoin miner Greenidge Era has filed a lawsuit towards the New York Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) over licensing points.
In line with an Aug. 15 court docket submitting, the corporate seeks an injunction after the DEC denied its Title V air allow utility for its Dresden energy technology and mining facility.
The lawsuit
The DEC had refused to resume the Title V air allow in June 2022, citing non-compliance with the Local weather Management and Neighborhood Safety Act.
Greenidge’s attraction towards the choice was rejected in Might 2024. Nonetheless, the corporate was granted a four-month grace interval to proceed working underneath the present allow till Sept. 8.
Greenidge claims the DEC’s determination was “arbitrary and capricious.” The corporate argued that the DEC overstepped its authority, infringing on the New York State Public Service Fee’s jurisdiction over electricity-generating services and disregarding the New York Unbiased System Operator’s course of.
The agency additional argued that the regulator’s stance on shutting down the power was primarily based on its involvement in crypto mining regardless of its position in supplying electrical energy to the grid. Greenidge additionally emphasised the power’s contribution to the state’s economic system, together with job creation and tax funds that help the county’s finances.
Greenidge said that if the DEC’s determination isn’t annulled, it could be pressured to close down and stop working the power by Sept. 9.
On its web site, Greenidge highlights that its Dresden facility offers clear, dependable energy to New York’s power grid, able to powering as much as 20,000 properties and companies as of 2020.
Greenidge’s operations
The Dresden plant is a crucial a part of Greenidge’s operations, supporting energy technology, crypto mining, and information heart internet hosting providers. Greenidge additionally operates in South Carolina, Mississippi, and North Dakota.
Greenidge reported $13.1 million in income through the second quarter, with $4.8 million derived from self-mining and $6.6 million from crypto information heart internet hosting. The corporate additionally earned an extra $1.5 million from energy and capability providers.
General, Greenidge generated $32.4 million year-to-date, primarily from its crypto information heart operations. Its CEO Jordan Kovler stated:
“The actions we took within the first half of 2024 created a robust basis that positions Greenidge to develop effectively transferring ahead as we proceed to scale our enterprise. This quarter, we adopted by way of on our guarantees to considerably cut back SG&A, increase our energy capability and acquire and construct new websites with low energy the place we are able to deploy our personal miners.”
