{"id":309851,"date":"2026-07-30T15:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/309851\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T15:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T15:06:12","slug":"upstate-ny-crypto-mine-seeks-to-become-data-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/309851\/","title":{"rendered":"Upstate NY crypto mine seeks to become data center"},"content":{"rendered":"

A controversial bitcoin mining operation in the Finger Lakes is seeking to transform into a data center despite Gov. Kathy Hochul\u2019s moratorium on new facilities<\/a> powering the AI boom.<\/p>\n

Neighbors of the Greenidge Generation plant have long complained that the facility with more than 20,000 continuously operating computers is a threat to the picturesque region<\/a>. Now, Greenidge has rebranded as Vulcan Infrastructure and Power, and is asking for 200 megawatts of more power from the grid \u2014 enough to power roughly 150,000 homes, according to records<\/a> from the state grid operator.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is increasingly constrained by one critical resource: reliable, available power,\u201d Vulcan wrote in a statement published on its website. \u201cThe Company believes it is well-positioned to address this opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The company says it has raised nearly $40 million in connection with the effort.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Hochul signed the country\u2019s first data center moratorium, pausing permits for facilities that use 50 megawatts or more of power. But the Department of Environmental Conservation would not say whether Vulcan\u2019s application fell under the moratorium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has not received any new applications relating to the reported change of use of the facility from crypto mining to data center operations,\u201d spokesperson Jeff Wernick said.<\/p>\n

Hochul\u2019s executive order<\/a> states all applications for the \u201cconstruction or expansion\u201d of data centers be \u201cheld in abeyance\u201d until the state completes a study of the impact of data centers.<\/p>\n

Vulcan began trading stock under its new moniker last Friday. According to the company\u2019s announcement, it is unclear if crypto-mining operations will cease completely, but its investors plan to develop the site immediately as a data center. The company did not return multiple requests for comment and clarity.<\/p>\n

Lisa Perfetto, an attorney at the advocacy group Earth Justice, said there isn\u2019t much difference between running a data center and mining for digital currency.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aIt’s the same old company with a new name,\u201d Perfetto said. \u201cThey’re now just attempting to rebrand as an AI data center, but that just has the same potential to cause harm, to further increase harmful emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the state needs to quickly clarify whether the fossil fuel-powered plant can become a data center.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s a question for the governor, the full scope of what the executive order covers,\u201d Perfetto said. \u201cIt’s more of the same with a company trying to escape a bad track record and ramping up load and the need for additional electric generation without value to New Yorkers and in further harm of climate and the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hochul\u2019s office referred questions to the DEC.<\/p>\n

Local residents and environmental groups have campaigned to close the facility for roughly six years. Local advocates said Greenidge’s operations cause pollution that mars the local tourism industry, which thrives on natural beauty and agriculture.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreenidge can change its name, but it can’t change its track record,\u201d said Yvonne Taylor, co-founder of Seneca Lake Guardian. \u201cA new name doesn’t mean a clean slate. Rebranding doesn’t erase the years of pollution, disruption to our environment and quality of life, broken promises, and major threats to New York’s climate goals.”<\/p>\n

Vulcan\u2019s rebrand reflects the AI boom that has become a major national political issue. Communities around the country have expressed alarm about the mammoth data centers needed to power artificial intelligence. Residents have expressed concern that the data centers will cause spikes in their energy bills and produce more pollution.<\/p>\n

The current bitcoin-mining facility has a capacity of 107 megawatts, enough energy for 75,000 homes. But the bitcoin business isn\u2019t what it used to be. Last year, the company reported $15.2 million in revenue, a 25% drop compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A controversial bitcoin mining operation in the Finger Lakes is seeking to transform into a data center despite…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":309852,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[9,11,10,49,51,50],"class_list":["post-309851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-news","tag-new-york-state","tag-new-york-state-headlines","tag-new-york-state-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309851\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/309852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}