Digital Power Network: New York’s Draft GEIS on Bitcoin Mining Sacrifices Facts for Headlines
Nation’s largest Bitcoin mining coalition submits formal response, urging regulators to replace speculation with science
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – The Digital Power Network (DPN), representing more than 75% of U.S. Bitcoin mining capacity, including multiple facilities in New York, today submitted its official response to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) on cryptocurrency mining.
DPN cautioned that the Draft GEIS, released in July 2025, relies on exaggerated assumptions and sensationalist framing rather than real-world evidence. By portraying a worst-case caricature of Proof-of-Work mining while omitting critical operational facts, the report creates a narrative that does not stand up to scrutiny.
“The Draft GEIS reads more like a headline than a study,” said Hailey Miller, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy at DPN. “New York deserves serious policymaking grounded in data, not speculation. The reality is that mining is not an unmanageable threat, it is a flexible, decarbonizing, and economically beneficial industry that can help the state meet its climate and energy goals.”
In its filing, DPN dismantles the report’s core claims:
Energy and emissions are overstated. The GEIS assumes miners run at full capacity around the clock, which is simply false. Mining facilities regularly curtail for maintenance, economics, and, most importantly, in response to grid stress. Far from being an “always-on drain,” miners are among the most flexible industrial loads available, able to shed megawatts in minutes and absorb surplus renewable power that would otherwise go unused.
Local harms are misrepresented. Nearly all facilities in New York use air or closed-loop cooling, meaning water use is negligible. With the exception of a single permitted site, miners do not create new local air emissions. Noise impacts, while real, are already being addressed with engineering solutions and compliance with local ordinances. These are ordinary siting issues, not grounds for sweeping restrictions.
Climate alignment is ignored. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) is already driving the grid toward 70% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% carbon-free by 2040. That means mining, like every other industry, will automatically decarbonize as the grid does. In fact, miners can help accelerate the transition by strengthening renewable economics, anchoring new generation, and providing controllable demand that stabilizes the system as intermittent resources scale up.
“Taken together, these facts dismantle the report’s central premise,” Miller added. “Proof-of-Work mining is not an unmanageable risk. It is a solvable challenge, and if integrated properly, a powerful tool for New York’s clean energy transition and economic growth.”
“New York has a choice,” said Miller. “It can chase headlines and drive this industry away, or it can lead by example with fair, evidence-based standards that protect the environment and harness innovation. DPN and our members stand ready to partner with regulators to make New York the global leader in sustainable Bitcoin mining.”
The full response submitted by DPN is available here.
About the Digital Power Network (DPN):
The Digital Power Network (DPN) is the largest coalition of Bitcoin miners and digital infrastructure leaders in the United States, representing over 75% of domestic Bitcoin hash rate. DPN advocates for policies that promote energy innovation, grid resilience, economic development, and the strategic role of digital assets in the 21st-century economy.