The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced its denial of the Title V air permit renewal for the Greenidge Generation, LLC, facility located in the town of Torrey, Yates County. DEC conducted a comprehensive review of Greenidge’s application and supporting materials, as well as the approximately 4,000 public comments received. DEC subjects all applications for environmental permits to an extensive and transparent review process that encourages public input at every step‎.

DEC determined the permit renewal application does not demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Based on DEC’s review of the specific facts and circumstances presented, this natural gas-fired facility’s continued operations would be inconsistent with the statewide greenhouse gas emission limits established in the Climate Act.

Among the factors considered was the dramatic increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the facility since the passage of the Climate Act, driven by the change in the primary purpose of its operations. Rather than solely providing energy to the state’s electricity grid, the power plant now primarily provides energy behind-the-meter to support the demands of Greenidge’s energy-intensive proof of work cryptocurrency mining operations.

The full decision is outlined in a letter by Daniel Whitehead, Director, Division of Environmental Permits, DEC.