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The Seneca County Board of legislators passed a measure Tuesday to send a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul asking her to sign legislation<\/a> implementing a two-year moratorium on refiring fossil fuel power plants for the purpose of cryptocurrency mining.<\/p>\n The measure passed unanimously, an unusual feat considering the board consists of 13 Republicans and a lone Democrat. Republicans have largely rallied against the efforts to address environmental concerns associated with generating some types of cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n The resolution also asks Hochul to instruct the Department of Environmental Conservation to deny the renewal of air permits for Greenidge Generation. The department has said<\/a> the plant is not in compliance with the state\u2019s climate goals<\/a> due to its Bitcoin mining operation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are holding up our end of the deal to protect our environment and honor the state\u2019s climate goals,\u201d the letter to the governor reads. \u201cWe ask that you hold up the state\u2019s end of the deal by denying Greenidge Generation\u2019s air permit applications and signing the bill that issues a moratorium on these kinds of cryptocurrency operations.\u201d<\/p>\n The Greenidge Generation facility sits across Seneca Lake in Yates County. The Yates County Legislature unanimously voted<\/a> last year in favor of a resolution supporting the Greenidge facility.<\/p>\n The chairs of the county\u2019s Republican and Democratic committees, Thomas Fox and David Wood respectively, also released a joint statement shortly after Tuesday\u2019s vote, aligning themselves with the board of supervisors.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we are both proudly pro-business, there comes a point where the exploitation of our natural resources goes too far,\u201d the joint statement read. \u201cThe continued operation of Greenidge Generation\u2019s cryptocurrency mining operation threatens the health of Seneca Lake and is not consistent with the character of our communities or the nature of our thriving tourism industry. The Greenidge plant offers no practical benefit to the residents of Seneca County and its continued operation will only harm the residents and visitors that cherish the lake as we do.\u201d<\/p>\n Hochul said recently that she is still considering whether to sign the moratorium legislation. The DEC has set a deadline<\/a> of June 30 to address Greenidge\u2019s permits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n