House Environmental Committee Meets Sept. 26 On Cryptocurrency Mining Moratorium Bill

The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on September 26 to consider House Bill 1476 (Vitali-D-Delaware) putting in place a two-year moratorium on issuing permits to electric generating facilities used by cryptocurrency mining operations.

Also on the agenda is House Bill 1474 (Ciresi-D-Montgomery) that would expand the  C-PACE clean energy financing program to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

On June 27, House Democratic Leadership asked Rep. Vitali, Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee, to cancel a Committee meeting and not consider House Bill 1476 and House Bill 170 (Otten-D-Chester) extending setback safety zones around natural gas facilities, which he did.  Read more here.

The Committee had held a May 1 hearing on the cryptocurrency issue and climate change where environmental groups expressed concerns about the power consumption and environmental impacts of electric generation facilities used to support cryptocurrency operations.  Read more here.

House Bill 1476 contains several provisions--

-- Two-Year Moratorium: enacts a two-year moratorium on DEP issuing air quality permits to electric generation facilities supporting cryptocurrency mining operations;

-- Cryptocurrency Operation Reporting: requires cryptocurrency operations to file a report with DEP on their operations, the energy consumed, source of electricity, emissions generated and water used; 

-- Impact Study: DEP, in consultation with the Public Utility Commission, is directed to develop an impact study of cryptocurrency operations, including number and location, greenhouse gas emissions, electricity consumed, potential impacts on electrical grid, health impacts and other parameters;

Rep. Vitali’s related bill-- House Bill 1282 exempting cryptocurrency data mining facilities from the state tax credit for data centers (sponsor summary)- was reported out of his Committee June 6 and is now in the House Rules Committee.

The meeting will be held in Room 140 of the Main Capital starting at 10:00 a.m.   Click Here to watch live online.

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5075 or by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com.

Related Articles:

-- House Democratic Leadership Blocks Environmental Committee Action On Bills Increasing Safety Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities, Cryptocurrency Permit Moratorium  [PaEN]

-- House Environmental Committee Sets May 1 Hearing On Cryptocurrency And Climate Change; Background Brief  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For Cryptocurrency Power Generation Facility By Diversified Production, LLC At A Shale Gas Well In Elk County  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 19, 2023]  PA Environment Digest