The Seneca County Board of Supervisors wants Governor Kathy Hochul to make a decision on cryptomining in New York and on the air permit renewal applications for Greenidge Generation in Dresden.

Supervisors voted unanimously last night to send a letter to Albany voicing their support for the Governor and state DEC to deny Greenidge’s air permit renewal and to sign the cryptomining moratorium bill.

Back in October, lawmakers in Yates County, where the Greenidge Generation plant is based, voted unanimously in support of the DEC to renew the Title Five air permit application. In its resolution, the county legislature highlighted the positive economic contributions Greenidge has made and cited previous DEC and federal EPA rulings that there would be no significant environmental impacts in the generating plant.  Yates County Farm Bureau also backed the local bitcoin mining operation.

Last March, the state announced it would wait until the end of June to make a decision on the Title Five renewal, a decision was initially expected back in January.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Seneca County Republican Committee Chairman Thomas Fox and Democratic Party Committee Chairman David Wood issued a joint statement:

“As the chairmen of the Seneca County Republican Committee and the Seneca County Democratic Committee, we do not agree on much. However, when it comes to protecting Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake, we are united. We come together today in this bipartisan effort to call on Governor Hochul and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation to deny the air permits for Greenidge Generation’s cryptocurrency power plant in Dresden, New York.

The Finger Lakes are our most valuable resource and provide clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the region. While we are both proudly pro-business, there comes a point where the exploitation of our natural resources goes too far. The continued operation of Greenidge Generation’s cryptocurrency mining operation threatens the health of Seneca Lake and is not consistent with the character of our communities or the nature of our thriving tourism industry. The Greenidge plant offers no practical benefit to the residents of Seneca County and its continued operation will only harm the residents and visitors that cherish the lake as we do.

The Seneca County Board of Supervisors has also acted, passing a unanimous, bipartisan resolution that calls on Governor Hochul and NYSDEC Commissioner Seggos to deny the expired air permits and shutter the plant for good. We, as county party leaders, affirm their action and ask our state leaders to honor the wishes of the people of Seneca County by denying Greenidge’s air permit applications. It is not often that we find common ground, but we hope that the governor takes notice that we stand united in Seneca County in preserving the wonder and beauty of the Finger Lakes.”

A copy of the resolution presented Tuesday night:

SENECA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

IMPLORE GOVERNOR HOCHUL TO DENY PERMITS & ISSUE MORATORIUM FOR

WHEREAS, Seneca County has taken additional steps to protect our lakes and watersheds and have passed strict septic inspection laws to improve water quality for Seneca and Cayuga Lakes; and

WHEREAS, we have increased funding for the inter-municipal watershed organizations that advocate for our lakes so that they can have the greatest possible impact; and

WHEREAS, the Seneca County Board of Supervisors is concerned with the lack of action and delayed deadlines for denying the renewal of air permits for Greenidge Generation’s power plant in Dresden, New York; and

WHEREAS, this resolution was introduced to the Board of Supervisor pursuant to Rules of Order #29; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that a letter be sent to Governor Hochul to uphold the constitutional amendment that guarantees New Yorkers the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment by denying Greenidge Generation’s air permit applications and signing the bill that issues a moratorium on these kinds of cryptocurrency operations.

Dear Governor Hochul and Commissioner Seggos:

The Seneca County Board of Supervisors is concerned with the lack of action and delayed deadlines for denying the renewal of air permits for Greenidge Generation’s power plant in Dresden, New York.

As we wrote in our October 2020 letter to NYSDEC Acting Regional Director Timothy Walsh, we continue to unanimously oppose the continued operation of the cryptocurrency mining operation on Seneca Lake.

As a county government, we have taken additional steps to protect our lakes and watersheds. We have passed strict septic inspection laws to improve water quality for Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. We have increased funding for the inter-municipal watershed organizations that advocate for our lakes so that they can have the greatest possible impact. We are holding up our end of the deal to protect our environment and honor the state’s climate goals. We ask that you hold up the state’s end of the deal by denying Greenidge Generation’s air permit applications and signing the bill that issues a moratorium on these kinds of cryptocurrency operations.

Since our 2020 letter, the people of the State of New York have spoken out loudly and clearly that they expect swift action from their elected leaders on environmental issues. They’ve spoken at the ballot box by passing a constitutional amendment that guarantees New Yorkers the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment. Seneca County residents approved the amendment by a wide margin. We are united, bipartisan, and unanimous in asking you to deny the permits, sign the bill, and protect Seneca Lake from further exploitation.

Paul Kronwenwetter, Chairman, Environmental Affairs Committee

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SENECA

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