To the Editor:
The second in a series of three reports from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was released Feb. 28, 2022. The findings should not surprise us. This body of leading climate experts from around the world have concluded that time is of the essence in mitigating impacts of climate change and that wide-scale adaptation is necessary given the irreversible changes we are already experiencing. But policy is not working fast enough.
Given this reminder of urgency, it becomes ever more justified and necessary to take swift and decisive policy actions that will prevent expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure and will reduce that existing fossil fuel infrastructure. In New York state, cryptocurrency has become a key concern in this regard. Across the state, old fossil fuel burning facilities are being refired for use as cryptocurrency mining hubs, most notable Greenidge Generation on Seneca Lake.
New York state has proven a leader in the U.S on climate policy by passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019. Now, legislation aimed at getting New York off fossil fuels needs to be backed up with action and with funding to make it all happen. This includes actions to keep new emissions from entering the fold and new fossil fuel infrastructure from operating.
If our elected representatives and agencies take the climate crisis seriously, the logical next step is to deny facility permits and institute a statewide moratorium on cryptocurrency mining this session. There is no time, and no energy, to waste.
Lauren Darcy
Syracuse
Related: As bitcoin mining hooks into Upstate NY power plants, some wonder if it’s just more hot air
