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Letter to Energy Subcommittee on hearing, “Powering America’s Future”
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TDC and DPN President Cody Carbone pens Times Union Op-Ed
The Times Union Editorial Board’s opposition to cryptocurrency mining in New York overlooks its benefits to the grid and renewable energy goals ("Green money? Hardly," Dec. 22). Properly managed crypto mining can enhance grid reliability and drive economic progress while supporting renewable energy integration.
Crypto mining data centers offer a unique advantage: large flexible demand response. Unlike other industries, miners can scale energy use up or down in real time, reducing grid strain during peak demand. In New York, miners already collaborate with the Independent System Operator’s programs, throttling energy use during grid stress to ensure reliability, especially during extreme weather events.
Miners also facilitate renewable energy adoption by consuming excess power from solar or wind resources during off-peak times. This flexible demand ensures renewable projects remain economically viable, encouraging further investment in clean energy, key to achieving New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act targets.
Economically, the claim that mining offers “few jobs” dismisses its growing role in revitalizing communities. Miners repurpose old industrial sites, boost local tax revenue, create jobs in trades and energy management, and provide workforce training for transferable skills in data center operations. Many mining companies are also adopting carbon-neutral practices, aligning with state climate goals.
New York’s delay in studying the industry is a missed opportunity for collaboration. Policymakers should engage with miners as partners in modern grid management and climate resilience strategies. Rather than dismissing crypto mining, New York should leverage its benefits to stabilize the grid, promote renewable energy, and foster economic growth. The state’s ambitious energy goals demand bold, pragmatic solutions; crypto mining offers one path forward.