Elizabeth Warren, a member of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, expanded the environmental-impact inquiry into mining to six companies. As stated in a press release.
In December 2021, Senator asked Greenidge Generation CEO Deffri Kirta to provide detailed data about the firms activities.
The expanded inquiry mentions Riot Blockchain, Marathon Digital Holdings, Stronghold Digital Mining, Bitdeer, Bitfury Group and Bit Digital. Warren asked each company by February 10 to provide details on electricity consumption, expansion plans, agreements with energy firms, and the impact on rates for consumers and small businesses.
“The extremely high energy consumption and CO₂ emissions associated with Bitcoin mining could undermine our strenuous efforts to tackle the climate crisis, not to mention the harmful impact of mining on local environments and electricity prices,” said Warren.
Earlier in the U.S. House of Representatives, hearings on cryptocurrency mining were held. During the discussion, lawmakers named CO₂ emissions and energy efficiency as priorities in any mining debates. Industry representatives did not participate in the discussion.
Earlier, Fitch Ratings analysts warned that mining in the United States could pose financial risks for power-supply companies.
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