Some people refuse to have anything to do with crypto currency, despite the fact that it is becoming increasingly popular and has a significant impact on financial markets worldwide.
- The New York State Public Service Commission,
- Fortistar North Tonawanda, LLC,
- North Tonawanda Holdings, LLC,
- Canadian cryptocurrency mining company called Digihost International, Inc.
were named as the defendants in a lawsuit that was filed (1) in the Supreme Court of Albany County on January 13 by two environmental organizations called Clean Air Coalition of Western New York and Sierra Club. Earthjustice serves as legal counsel for the Clean Air Coalition and the Sierra Club.
A Breach of the Environmental Law in the City of New York
The New York Public Service Commission’s approval of a fossil fuel-burning Proof-of-Work crypto mining facility within a power plant owned by Fortistar served as the basis for the complaint.
According to Earthjustice, the authorization of NYPSC constitutes an automatic violation of the comprehensive climate law that the state has in place, notably the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
According to the materials filed with the court, the facility would produce up to 3,000% more greenhouse gas emissions if it were used as a crypto currency mining complex. Additionally, it would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This is a unique case (2) brought in New York State to compel compliance with the state’s most crucial climate act requirements.
Clean Air Coalition Executive Director Chris Murawski has to say that the Public Service Commission is not fulfilling its responsibilities as a regulatory agency to safeguard the general public’s health and uphold the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates.
Mainly in residential areas like North Tonawanda, Clean Air will continue campaigning against using fossil fuels to create power for bitcoin mining.
The Effects of Crypto currency on the Environment
In addition to the apparent greenhouse gasses that a power station emits as a byproduct while it is operating, the plaintiffs, in this case, make the argument that the societies encompassing the chosen to take power station have been significantly affected and are regarded to be “disadvantaged communities” under the 2019 climate law.
It is argued based on the fact that the plaintiffs contend that the societies encompassing the taken-over power station have been significantly affected.
This designation can potentially have enormous repercussions for the citizens of New York who live close to the Fortistar power plant and depend on its services.
This indicates that specific communities have a higher possibility of incurring adverse environmental impacts, which can be a significant and long-lasting burden to many persons and families living within the neighborhood and operating radius of the power plant. Those communities include:
Dror Ladin, a senior attorney of Earthjustice, commented on the matter as follows:
“Because of New York’s groundbreaking climate law, government agencies are no longer allowed to ignore the climatic and protection of the environmental implications of the decisions they make.”
While obtaining clearance, Clear Air and the Sierra Club expressed their concerns about the environment to the PSC. In response, Digihost announced in public documents that it would convert the plant to sustainable natural gas, with the final goal of just using 100% hydrogen by the end of 2023.
