US lawmakers urge EPA review of Proof-of-Work over environmental impact

A group of U.S. lawmakers reached out to the Environmental Protection Agency to examine the mining industry for environmental risks and compliance with relevant laws.

Particular concern was raised by the authors about the Proof-of-Work consensus algorithm. The document says that a single Bitcoin transaction could power a typical American household for a month.

As an alternative, the lawmakers propose a ‘less energy-intensive’ technology, for which allegedly 99.99% fewer resources are used.

The authors of the initiative said they were concerned about violations of clean air, clean water, and noise laws by mining farms that disturb the peace of neighboring residents.

The lawmakers also cited successes in the fight against the Bitcoin mining company Greenidge Generation, which in July 2021 was accused of environmental violations.

In April 2022, the New York Supreme Court denied a petition seeking to halt the construction of the firm’s mining facilities near Seneca Lake.

In February 2022, Pat Gelsinger, the CEO of one of the world's largest microchip manufacturers, criticized Bitcoin for its environmental impact.

Earlier, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin called the human factor the main barrier to Proof-of-Stake.

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