News

Title Date

A Bitcoin Boom Fueled by Cheap Power, Empty Plants and Few Rules

New York Times

Cryptocurrency miners are flocking to New York’s faded industrial towns, prompting concern over the environmental impact of huge computer farms.

A Dirty Waste—How Renewable Energy Policies Have Financed the Unsustainable Waste-to-Energy Industry

The end of the 20th Century saw a major shift in the United States’ approach to energy policy. After decades focused on fossil fuel production, the country began to realize that renewable sources of energy were the way of the future. Governments relied on both mandates and tax incentives to encourage the use of energy from sources like solar and wind power. Waste- to-Energy (“WTE”) power is another form of energy production that is classified as renewable. This Note summarizes the WTE pro- cess and the laws that allowed it to grow, argues that WTE is not economical- ly sound or environmentally sustainable, and proposes legislative changes to prevent more harm from WTE in the future.

A New Dimension to Crypto driving the Climate Crisis: a chat w Yvonne Taylor

Listen: Human Insights with James Cox

Don't miss Yvonne Taylor discussing crypto and climate with James Cox.

A Personal Message From SLG VP Yvonne Taylor

This is your call to action. Adding YOUR voice is the only way.  Each one of you needs to make noise, if we are to preserve this region, and prevent it from succumbing to the Greenidge facility that harms our clean air, water, and thriving agri-tourism economy.

After months of delay, NY still reviewing 4,000 public comments for Finger Lakes power plant owned by Bitcoin miners

gothamist

At a Monday morning press conference, two Cornell University researchers disclosed that they had reviewed all those comments in less than a week — and found that 98.8% were strongly opposed to renewal of a for-profit power plant running 24/7 with very little public use.

Assemblyman Kolb, Assemblyman Palmesano and Senator Helming Incinerator Letter

Letter expressing opposition to the EnerG incinerator.

BREAKING: NYS Senate Passes First in the Nation Cryptomining Moratorium

Watch the Press Conference

We're excited to announce that the NY Senate passed the crypto moratorium bill at 2:00 am today. This was despite the fact that the pro crypto lobby spent millions to oppose it.  A very heartfelt THANK YOU to all who put effort into this victory!!! 

Call Gov. Hochul Re: Greenidge

Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant

The Hochul administration has a deadline of March 31 for deciding whether to grant an air quality permit to a fracked gas power plant in the Finger Lakes.

Call Governor Hochul: Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant
866-942-5138
Deadline: Thursday, March 31

Call Governor Hochul:

Stop Bitcoin mining fracked gas power plants

Call Governor Hochul TODAY at 877-235-6537 to urge her to halt Bitcoin mining in New York, starting with the Greenidge power plant on Seneca Lake, and Fortistar power plant proposed for Niagara County.

CALL HOCHUL! Let’s hit 200!

Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant

We’ve generated 128 calls to Hochul thus far this week.
 
Can we top 200? I think we can!
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Title Date

Save the Date - We need YOU!

Earth Day Rally

ABC News and other media outlets will be in the Finger Lakes on Saturday, April 22nd at 11:30, covering the story about the Seneca Meadows Landfill on Earth Day.  We are planning a big rally and we need a HUGE turn out.

Countdown to Deadline: Don’t Sit This One Out!

We have until this Friday, January 27th to submit comments to the DEC regarding NY's largest landfill, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Seneca Meadows Landfill was slated to close in 2025, and instead, they've applied for an expansion (seven stories higher than it is now!) and an operating extension through 2040.

Think Landfills Shouldn’t Be Near Homes and Schools? Sign On To This Letter!

We have an opportunity to comment on the NY State DEC's Proposed New Regulations that would prevent landfills from being sited or expanding near schools and landfills.  This sign on letter is for both individuals and organizations. Please complete this google form today!

Call Gov. Hochul Re: Greenidge

Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant

The Hochul administration has a deadline of March 31 for deciding whether to grant an air quality permit to a fracked gas power plant in the Finger Lakes.

Call Governor Hochul: Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant
866-942-5138
Deadline: Thursday, March 31

Important Actions and Updates

Seneca Lake Guardian has been working extremely hard for the protection of the Finger Lakes, as we're rounding the  bend and expecting a decision from the DEC on Thursday, March 31st on Greenidge's Title V Air Permit. 

CALL HOCHUL! Let’s hit 200!

Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant

We’ve generated 128 calls to Hochul thus far this week.
 
Can we top 200? I think we can!

Hochul’s DEC Gives Greenidge Crucial Time Window to Expand Bitcoin Mining Before It Rules on Air Permit Renewal

We learned last week that a decision expected at the end of January on the Greenidge facility's Title V Air Permit Renewal has been postponed through March 31st, with the possibility now on the table for a costly and lengthy adjudicatory process which could, in effect, take years. 

Stop the Greenidge fracked gas power plant

Call Governor Hochul: 877-235-6537

Call Governor Hochul TODAY at 877-235-6537 to block the Greenidge power plant on Seneca Lake, which is burning fracked gas for cryptocurrency mining.

Please Sign on and Share Widely: Shut Seneca Meadows Landfill in 2025!

One of our major concerns is the growing amount of trash at the northern gateway to the Finger Lakes: Seneca Meadows Landfill (SMI). We invite you to sign on to a letter to Governor Hochul, urging her to close Seneca Meadows Landfill in 2025 as planned. 

Opportunity To Advocate for Safer Drinking Water!

Rob and Dharma at EANY are working on legislation for the upcoming session that would require testing for dozens of contaminants, including all PFAS- the forever chemical. Rob and Dharma are looking for private well owners that would be interested in sharing their experiences.
Title Date

Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Energy, Michael Cusick, and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton Introduce Bill to Exclude Major Electric Generating Facilities from Expedited Power Plant Siting Process

Assembly Legislative Press Release

On March 27th, NYS Assemblyman Michael Cusick and NYS Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton introduced a bill in the NYS Assembly which would exclude major electric generating facilities, which generate electricity from the combustion or pyrolysis of solid waste or fuel derived from solid waste, from an expedited power plant siting process.

Citizens, Business Owners, Elected Officials and Community Organizations Share Concerns About New Waste Facility in the Finger Lakes

Citing concerns over PFAS and other issues, group collectively Urges Governor Cuomo to Deny Permits

Alternative Waste Systems has told DEC that it wants to turn land close to Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area and Newfield State Forest into a Materials Recovery Facility and Waste Transfer Station. The company is proposing to haul 500 tons of garbage and Construction / Demolition Debris via 185 trucks per day.
FLX Garbage Dump Truck Route

COMMENT DEADLINE FOR GARBAGE TRANSFER STATION DUE THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH!

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

We recently learned of a proposal for a garbage transfer facility that could negatively impact areas around Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Please review the overview that we have gleaned from the project application. We have exactly 2 days remaining to submit comments to the DEC regarding this proposal (deadline September 24!), and to the Cayuta Town Board prior to October 14th.

Comments from Seneca Lake Guardian Business Coalition and Finger Lakes Wine Business Coalition Opposing Greenidge Generating Station Air Title V Facility Permit

The undersigned members of the Fingers Lakes Wine Business Coalition urge the DEC to deny the Greenidge facility’s Title V Air Permit. We are concerned that the power plant, used as a bitcoin mining operation and its enormous increases in GHG emissions, will adversely impact the vibrant wine and tourism industry in the region.

Connections: A debate over crypto currency

Listen

Crypto currency has made significant gains in the last six months and is more popular than ever. But to obtain certain forms of currency like Bitcoin, mathematical experts have to perform complex computer equations.

We discuss how it works, why they there is opposition, and why crypto has been so hot.

Countdown to Deadline: Don’t Sit This One Out!

We have until this Friday, January 27th to submit comments to the DEC regarding NY's largest landfill, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Seneca Meadows Landfill was slated to close in 2025, and instead, they've applied for an expansion (seven stories higher than it is now!) and an operating extension through 2040.

Crypto: Climate Change Accelerator, Capitalist Con

WATCH: System Change Not Climate Change Webinar

What the frack is cryptocurrency, anyway? Join us for a critical evaluation...who loves it, what it is, when and where it may be coming, why it's growing so spectacularly, and how it impacts climate.

Cryptocurrency Mining, An Emerging and Unregulated Industry?

LISTEN: WRFI Radio and Peter Mantius

Greenidge Generation LLC is a natural gas power plant that’s mining cryptocurrency on an industrial scale, and Greenidge aims to expand its operations.Torrey is a small, rural town in the heart of the Finger Lakes, situated on the west side of Seneca Lake.The Planning Board is reviewing a site plan application for Greenidge at it’s meeting on April 19th.

Deborah Goldberg Environmental Stewardship Scholarship

The Deborah Goldberg Environmental Stewardship Scholarship will be awarded annually to a Finger Lakes High School Senior who is pursuing a career in Environmental Law. 

DEC Just Approved a Large Garbage Transfer Facility in Schuyler County

SLG is Challenging This Permit!

Seneca Lake Guardian has been hard at work, so we wanted to provide you with some updates on what we've been doing to keep our region's air and water clean.