Energy production pollution for no purpose other than cryptocurrency.
Power plant is burning coal waste, burning construction debris, and planning to burn rubber.
An update about the PA DEP public meeting.
Linda Christman, president of Save Carbon County, a nonprofit environmental group, said, "The current management (of Panther Creek) operates only to serve the creation of bitcoins. They have had numerous violations and have shown that their operation will only comply with your rules and regulations to the extent that you provide close oversight." She said, "The owners reap millions while polluting our water, our air and undoubtedly causing our electric costs to increase." Christman testified that as of October, 10,000 additional specialized computers called "miners" were added to the operation of the Panther Creek Power Plant. "This means that more power will be needed for the purpose of creating bitcoins and the new owner of the plant has indicated there will be no more power contributed to the grid." She urged the DEP to "end the treatment of Panther Creek as a power generator now." She also asked the DEP "to require the installation of electrostatic precipitators to provide needed additional protection from the cancer-causing pollution emitted by this plant on a 24/7 basis." According to Christman, the plant is burning construction debris as fuel. "The practice must stop," she said. "There is no way to verify this debris does not contain asbestos, plastics, PCBs, or other dangerous pollutants." She also said tire shreds are stored on the plant property, are not covered by tarps and could result in pollution to waterways. "Under no circumstances should the plant be allowed to burn tire shreds," she said. Hawk said the current permit allows only for the burning of waste coal and number 2 fuel oil. "No other materials, such as tire-derived fuel, are included in the permit renewal," he said. Lucy Freck of Kunkletown said, "Panther Creek seeks a permit to burn tires, which has not yet been acted upon. If permitted, this would release polyaromatic hydrocarbons into the atmosphere." She said a Right to Know response states Panther Creek is allowed to burn construction debris that can contain pollutants, including asbestos and PCBs. Carol Etheridge of Mahoning Township said Stronghold Digital "operates Panther Creek Power for bitcoin mining." She said there are plans to expand current operations by adding 10,000 miners and double the megawatt available "by isolating the power plants from the grid, otherwise known as islanding, to provide power to a bitcoin data center." She said the plans are outlined in filings to the Security and Exchange Commission. "Bitfarms is a for-profit corporation that has no intention of providing power to the grid or contributing in any way to our community," she said, adding, "let's ensure that we are not putting toxins in our air, the environment and water."
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