The Panther Creek power plant is a waste coal-fired power plant home to thousands of cryptocurrency mining computers.
The plant submitted a permit proposal this past summer to the DEP requesting permission to burn so-called "tire derived fuel" (TDF), which environmental organizations and nearby residents raised alarm over risks to human and environmental health.
DEP has scheduled a public meeting on the proposal on December 18. Read more here.
"Our organization, Save Carbon County, is focused on preserving the unique environment of Carbon County. The coal regions of our county seem to be attractive as a location for industries that pollute and would not be accepted in wealthier communities. The cumulative impact of these degrading uses is a real impediment to economic recovery in the region and to the quality of life for residents," said Linda Christman, resident of Carbon County and the President of Save Carbon County.
“Nesquehoning is not a wealthy community. Within one mile of the power plant, 36% of the population lives under the federal poverty level,” said Christman. “Mining Bitcoins is of no benefit to this community.
“The one excellent thing that Panther Creek provides is a fine example of the power of money and influence over communities without power and influence. Going back to the beginning in 1992 and continuing to the present, this plant has been forced on the community without the means to fight back,” she explained.
"Since Panther Creek started generating cryptocurrency it has not justified that it contributes more than one-third of its potential electric output capacity to a public utility for sale," said Russell Zerbo, an advocate with the nonprofit Clean Air Council. "Panther Creek must explain how much of its power is for public use. Impacted residents do not deserve to be exposed to the increased carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution that is caused by burning tires."
Save Carbon County notes DEP has also recognized at least seven carcinogens present in PAHs. Despite this danger, they said, Panther Creek does not currently even monitor carcinogenic PAHs.
“Panther Creek has committed at least seven violations related to unpermitted air pollution issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the vast majority of those violations came after Stronghold Mining acquired the Panther Creek Tower Plant in late 2021,” said Zerbo.
“Because the plant uses the electricity it produces to generate cryptocurrency, the plant should be re-permitted as a solid waste incinerator that would be subject to increased air pollution monitoring requirements, particularly for heavy metals like Mercury,” Zerbo explained. “Because Panther Creek does not supply more than one-third of its potential electric output capacity to a utility for sale, it should not be permitted as an electric utility steam generating unit.”
“Cryptocurrency is a completely useless private product that provides no benefit to residents currently impacted by Panther Creek's incineration of waste coal. Burning tires will only increase carcinogenic air pollution from this facility,” said Zerbo.
Steve Chuckra, a local resident who lives within four miles of the Panther Creek Plant, said, “My wife and I recently discovered that the Pennsylvania DEP's boundary criteria for environmental justice is 0.5 miles around the area of concern, that being the power plant, even though the US EPA, their environmental justice boundary, is four miles."
“And an interesting thing to note is Carbon County spent a lot of time and effort protecting Mauch Chunk Lake. Mauch Chunk Lake falls within the US EPA's environmental justice radius, and it's also the source of half of Jim Thorpe's drinking water,” said Chuckra.
“Carbon County derives most of its dollars in revenue from tourism, environmental tourism,” noted Chuckra. “In fact, I looked the statistic up on VisitPA, and in 2021 Carbon County took in over $502 million in visitor money. And they come here for the DL Trail, for the Lehigh River, and for the beauty of the Pocono Mountain region.
“And I think everybody who has a stake in this needs to realize what side of their bread the butter's on, and that we basically live on environmental tourism here, yet we do very little to support our environment,” said Chuckra.
Click Here for a recording of the press conference.
Background
In 2021, Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. acquired Panther Creek to generate cryptocurrency by burning waste coal to provide energy to power their computers.
They are now requesting to incinerate 15% of its fuel from shredded tires, which would only increase the air pollution generated at the site from burning waste coal.
Tire Derived Fuel (TDF) is composed of shredded tires, and is often burned alongside conventional fuels like coal.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded that burning tires creates significant emissions of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which are known to contain at least seven carcinogens.
The PJM Interconnection has identified data centers (including cryptocurrency operations) as “huge, huge consumers of power” and are a major driver of increased electrical demand across the regional electric grid between now and 2037. Read more here.
Cryptocurrency operations typically use electrical power directly from electric generation facilities preventing that energy from getting onto the electrical grid.
PJM also said at a House hearing December 11, there is also a gap in electric generation developing where power plants are retiring faster because of economic and environmental reasons than they can be replaced by renewable energy generation and energy storage. Read more here.
This generation gap is potentially threatening the reliability of the grid and it is something PJM is trying to deal with. Read more here.
In Pennsylvania, no agency was tracking the power they used to better understand the impact they were having on the grid, wholesale electricity prices and the environment.
With no specific reporting requirements and inconsistent permitting, the only way to become aware of new or expanded cryptocurrency operations is to rely on media reports or reports from residents when new operations suddenly show up next to them, according to PennFuture. Read more here.
There have been examples in Pennsylvania-- Clearfield and Elk counties-- where cryptocurrency operations have been located next to shale gas well pads drawing natural gas directly from the wells to power very loud electric generators for the data centers. Read more here.
Other operations have attached themselves to waste coal-fired power plants or have plans to develop next to nuclear power plants. Read more here.
PA State Legislation
On December 13, the House passed House Bill 1476 sponsored by Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, requiring registration of cryptocurrency mining operations and an impact study of their operations by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Public Utility Commission.
The bill passed on a party-line vote of 102 to 101, Republicans opposing.
The bill now goes to the Senate for action. Read more here.
Resource Links:
-- U.S. Senate Hearing: Energy, Environmental Impacts Of Cryptocurrency Mining In Pennsylvania. [PaEN]
-- Earth Justice, Sierra Club Guide On Cryptocurrency Mining Operations
-- Stronghold Digital Mining: Stronghold Mined 193 Bitcoin In November 2023
NewsClip:
-- Utility Dive: US Electricity Load Growth Forecast Jumps 81% Led By Data Centers, Industry
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Dec. 9 to 15 - 500 Conventional Abandoned Well Violations; 25 Days Of Shale Gas Water Withdrawals Without Permission; Wastewater Pipeline Spill [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance So Far In 2023 - It Isn’t Pretty [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - December 16 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 68 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In December 16 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Former Employees Of Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Company Ask For Criminal Investigation Of Eureka And An Audit Of DEP Over Alleged Workplace, Environmental Violations [PaEN]
-- Senate Environmental Committee Reports Independent Energy Information Office Bill; Democrats Attempt To Table Environmental Hearing Board Nominee [PaEN]
-- EPA/DOE Award DEP $44.4 Million To Plug Active, Conventional Oil & Gas Wells To Stop Leaking Methane [PaEN]
-- Videos Now Available From PA League Of Women Voters, University Of Pittsburgh School Of Public Health Shale Gas & Public Health Conference; Dept. Of Health Pushing For Changes To Reduce Adverse Health Impacts [PaEN]
-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study [PaEN]
-- Carbon County Residents Urge DEP To Deny Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. Request To Burn Tires To Fuel Its Cryptocurrency Mining Operation At The Panther Creek Power Plant [PaEN]
-- CNX Ends Coordination On West Virginia Adams Fork Ammonia Energy Project, Anchor Of ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Application [PaEN]
-- HEI Energy Hosts Dec. 18 Webinar On New Research On Community Exposures To Oil & Gas Development & Groundwater Contamination In Beaver, Greene & Washington Counties [PaEN]
-- Independent Fiscal Office Estimates 2023 Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fee Revenue Will Drop By Nearly $105 Million, While Almost 400 New Wells Were Drilled So Far In 2023 [PaEN]
-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study [PaEN]
-- Carbon County Residents Urge DEP To Deny Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. Request To Burn Tires To Fuel Its Cryptocurrency Mining Operation At The Panther Creek Power Plant [PaEN]
-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Expanding Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards; Renewables Lower Energy Costs; Increase Grid Reliability; More Work Needed To Improve Natural Gas Reliability [PaEN]
-- WeConservePA Hosts Jan. 22 Webinar On Why Municipalities Should Consider A Utility-Scale Solar Energy Facility Ordinance [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension Webinar Dec. 21: Shale Gas Trends For Landowners, Growth & Land Leasing [PaEN]
NewsClips This Week:
-- Public Herald: I Turned Blue - Workers Share Horrifying Experiences Treating Oil & Gas Wastewater
-- Williamsport Sun: Ex-Employees Seek Criminal Probe Against Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport
-- NorthcentralPA.com: Former Eureka Resources Employees Ask Lycoming County DA Gardner For Criminal Investigation Of Workplace At Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant
-- Citizens Voice: Former Eureka Employees Ask Lycoming County DA For Criminal Investigation Of Workplace At Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant
-- Williamsport Sun: Fracking Water Spills At Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport
-- TribLive Letter: For Natural Gas Industry, Concern For Health Should Trump Industry Profits
-- Lock Haven Express Letter: Who Does Senator Yaw Represent? - By Karen Elias
-- The Daily Item Letter: We Deserve A Refund, Too, From The Legislature [Pitt Shale Gas Health Studies] - By Trey Casimir
-- Bob Donnan Blog: Unleashing LNG Natural Gas Exports On Pennsylvania’s Habitat
-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Regulatory Reform Needed To Advance Critical Natural Gas Projects In PA - By American Petroleum Institute PA
-- TribLive Letter: Natural Gas Industry A Win For Pennsylvania - Keystone Contractors Assn.
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Black And Brown Communities Cannot Be Left In The Dark As Energy Innovation Booms - By Fmr ExxonMobil Executive
-- Williamsport Sun Letter: ‘Any Legislation Or Regulation That Seeks To Further Restrict The Development, Transportation or Use Of Natural Gas Will Harm Our Economy, Undermine Personal Property Rights, Weaken National Security And Reverse The Significant Environmental Program Enabled By This Clean Abundant Energy Source’ - By Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition
-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Per Well Fee Revenues To Drop $105 Million
-- Post-Gazette: PA Shale Gas Impact Fee Revenues Drop $105 Million
-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp Board Risks Missing Deadline For Adopting New Generator Winterization Standards To Ensure Grid Reliability [Response To Winter Storm Elliot Problems]
-- Reuters: Extreme Cold Still Poses Reliability Challenge For North American Power Generators, Particularly Natural Gas Infrastructure - NERC
-- Utility Dive: US Electricity Load Growth Forecast Jumps 81% Led By Data Centers, Industry
-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Will Have 2 Years To Update Oil & Gas Facility Methane Emission Rules To Match EPA
-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Prices Up 1% On Higher Demand, Record LNG Exports
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Shale Gas Exports Get A Seat At The Global Table: ‘That’s Our Business’ [EQT]
-- Reuters: Freeport LNG Natural Gas Plant Settles With EPA Over Safety Failures In 2022 Texas Blast
-- Offshore Technology: US Gas Producer EQT Explores Sale Of Production Assets Worth $3 Billion In NE PA
-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Producer EQT Explores Sale Of Production Assets Worth $3 Billion In NE PA
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX Pulls Out Of Adams Fork Hydrogen Project
-- PennLive Letter: Let’s Get To Work On PA’s Hydrogen Hubs, Develop Strong Standards - By Rep. Rabb (D-Philadelphia)
-- Herald-Star: Tenaska Outlines Carbon Capture, Storage Project In Shale Gas Formations In SW PA, Southern Ohio
-- The Allegheny Front: COP28 Roundup: Food, Health, Disaster Relief And The Oceans
-- Financial Times: COP28: The New Climate Commitments That Really Count: Oil & Gas Methane Reductions; Tripling Renewables; Boost Energy Efficiency
-- AP: Experts At Odds Over Result Of UN Climate Talks: ‘Historic,’ ‘Pipsqueak’ Or Something Else?
-- Bloomberg: COP28 Deal Signals Role For Natural Gas In Clean Energy Transition
-- Reuters: What Are The Loopholes In COP28 Climate Deal That Could Keep Oil, Gas, Coal Flowing Indefinitely
[Posted: December 14, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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