NT residents urge DEC to reject crypto company’s application

NORTH TONAWANDA, NY — Neighbors of the Digihost cryptocurrency mining operation in North Tonawanda said they are bothered by the constant noise from the plant, as if they live next to a busy airport or of Niagara Falls.

Resident Mark Polito said it prevented him, his guests and even his pets from spending long periods of time outside and it was worse at night.

“I can go out in my backyard and it roars like you wouldn’t believe and it can literally penetrate the walls of the house while I sit and watch TV,” Polito said.

Environmental activists said the noise is just one of a handful of problems that began when Digihost bought the power plant from Fortistar and began using powerful computers to solve complex equations and launch a new digital currency. In order to produce the necessary electricity, they said the company was burning fracking gas and generating significant and increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and air pollution .

“In the first months of this year, in fact, Digihost’s greenhouse gas emissions exceeded their total emissions from the last two years combined. The ignition of a methane gas plant for the mining of BitCoin runs counter to New York State’s climate goals,” said Deborah Gondek, chair of the North Tonawanda Climate Smart Task Force.

A 2022 moratorium currently prohibits the state Department of Environmental Conservation from renewing or approving crypto mining operating permits. However, Digihost purchased the already existing Fortistar facility after the previous owner applied for an air permit and as a result the state allowed it to operate under the expired permit. Environmentalists said there is nothing stopping the DEC from rejecting an application and it has rejected once and upheld its decision twice, including last month in a similar situation in the Finger Lakes.

“We need to act now,” said Jessamine De Ocampo, associate attorney at the Earthjustice Clean Energy Program. “The DEC needs to stop sitting on Digihost and Fortistar’s air permit applications like it has for the past three years.”

The city administration is also exploring potential options to end the operation, including its own proposed moratorium, and will hold a public meeting next month. The factory was quiet on Thursday, but residents suspected that was because the company knew the media would be there.

“I invite everyone who does not believe this noise and our complaints. Come to my house tonight at midnight,” Polito said. “As long as these guys start, you’ll hear a noise you won’t believe.”

In a statement, the DEC said it had not deemed Fortistar’s renewal application complete. She said she was reviewing the application, including responses to two notices of incomplete application.

As part of its review, the DEC will determine whether the proposed renewal complies with the requirements of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.