Cryptocurrency mining has come to the attention of environmental groups ,including the Sierra Club, for the many ways it is harmful to the environment and undermines our climate change goals. This unregulated industry utilizes enormous amounts of electricity to power and to cool specialized computers which run 24/7 to solve complex mathematical problems. All of this work is to win one Bitcoin. Then it starts again where this 'number guessing game' is going on simultaneously in crypto mining sites all over the world.  Sources have shared that the electricity consumption of crypto mining annually is equivalent to the entire country of Argentina. For this reason, crypto mining has been banned in nine countries, including China, and limited in 42 others. The U.S. currently has no regulations in place. This level of energy consumption puts climate change goals at risk, including the ability to reduce our overall carbon footprint.

 
On January 5th, four people with direct experience of the downside of crypto mining will tell the WNC Sierra Club (Wenoca) their stories and strategies for aligning with government and non-government agencies to assist the communities around the mines.

 
Leading the group will be Rob Altenburg, the Senior Director for Energy and Climate at Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), an environmental advocacy organization working to lead the transition to a clean energy economy in Pennsylvania and beyond. As a licensed attorney with a strong technical background, he works closely with legislators, administration officials, regulatory agencies, the advocacy community, and the public developing workable policy solutions to address the climate crisis.

Also speaking will be three women who never expected they would become advocates for neighbors of crypto mining sites: Yvonne Taylor, Abi Buddington, and Cyndie Roberson. They will relate their experiences in New York and North Carolina.

 

For more information, contact WNC Sierra Club Chair Judy Mattox at judymattox15@gmail.com, (828) 683-2176.