Democratic lawmakers want federal regulators to track crypto mining energy use and emissions
), Senator Elizabeth Warren and five other lawmakers said the two agencies should work together to require crypto mining firms to disclose their energy use and emissions.that began at the start of the year. According to the letter, data collected from seven of the largest mining companies in the US, including Stronghold, Bitfury and Riot, indicates they can collectively use more than 1 gigawatt of electricity.
Warren and the other lawmakers say they’re concerned about what all that power use will mean for the environment and consumers. Regarding the former, they state that emissions data from three of the surveyed companies indicate they emit approximately 1.6 million tons of CO2 annually or the equivalent of the tailpipe emissions of almost 360,000 cars.
“The results of our investigation, which gathered data from just seven companies, are disturbing, with this limited data alone revealing that crypto miners are large energy users that account for a significant – and rapidly growing – amount of carbon emissions,” the letter states. By requiring crypto mining firms to disclose their energy use and emissions, the group says the EPA and Department of Energy could provide lawmakers with better data to inform future policy decisions.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US lawmakers ask about EPA, DOE monitoring of crypto mining emissions, energy consumptionWhile U.S. lawmakers want a closer eye kept on cryptomining emissions and energy use, as Paraguay gives the miners energy price incentives.
Read more »
United States Crypto Miners Are Now Using as Much Power as HoustonEven if the crypto market isn't exactly growing in terms of profit, the enthusiasts who mine it are certainly increasing their energy consumption.
Read more »
Putin signs law prohibiting crypto payments in Russia | EngadgetRussians will no longer be able to use cryptocurrencies and NFTs to pay for goods and services..
Read more »
EPA knocks Colorado’s system for issuing air quality permits to minor polluters like drilling sites, gold minesThe Environmental Protection Agency found “important concerns” with the way Colorado regulators review and issue permits to minor polluters such as mines, asphalt plants and oil and gas drilling ri…
Read more »
Voyager asks bankruptcy court to honor withdrawalsCrypto broker Voyager Digital has requested permission from a federal bankruptcy court to honor customer withdrawals for the more than $350 million held
Read more »
Texas Democrats urge Biden to use federal powers to restore medication abortion accessIn a letter Saturday, 42 state and federal politicians, as well as abortion providers and...
Read more »