A United States congressman has removed a proposed two-year ban on cryptocurrency mining permits from an energy conservation bill he proposed earlier this year to give the legislation a better chance of moving forward.
Pennsylvania Representative Greg Vitali presented the Cryptocurrency Energy Conservation Act to the state House of Representatives’ Environmental Resources and Energy Committee without the moratorium on Oct. 16. The committee, chaired by him, accepted both the bill and the amendment, with the former passing by a single vote.
In June, the lawmaker announced the bill specifically to ban crypto mining. At the time, Vitali alleged that the crypto-mining industry is a “massive energy user,” claiming that its global operations consume more energy than Argentina and Australia. He added, “This high level of energy usage places more stress on the environment and accelerates the climate crisis, in addition to raising costs for consumers.”
The Democratic representative told the Pennsylvania Capital Star that he’d learned the hard way that “there is not a high tolerance for strong environmental policy” and that he removed the moratorium to give the bill a chance to make it to the House.
With the moratorium on crypto mining gone, the bill mandates reporting requirements for crypto-mining facilities and an environmental study by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Lawmakers in the U.S. have increasingly scrutinized crypto mining and its energy implications. In 2022, New York imposed a two-year moratorium on new mining facilities.
Meanwhile, crypto miners are lobbying for friendlier policies in Washington, DC. In August, crypto miners operating in the U.S. created the Digital Energy Council to solicit support from politicians.
The member group will be advocating for policies “that promote responsible and sustainable energy development, grid resilience, maintain United States competitiveness, and protect national security.”