Board approves Greenidge plan

Board approves Greenidge plan

TORREY--The Torrey planning board voted 4-1, Monday, April 19, to approve the site plan proposed by Greenidge Generation LLC to build four additional buildings at their property. The new space will be used to house additional Bitcoin mining computers. With the application approved, Greenidge officials said after the meeting that they hope to break ground on the new buildings before the end of 2021.
"We're excited to move forward and we can't wait to start building... (we are) 90 percent done on engineering, this is a great day...(and) I'd like to break ground by fall," said Greenidge President and CEO Dale Irwin.
Despite previously leaving open what the use of the new buildings would be, Irwin said that was no longer the case after the vote.
"It would be our plan to use all the space," said Irwin about the computer mining expansion.
During the meeting, planning board members were adamant the board could not consider the operation of the power plant or the environmental impact of the Bitcoin mining operation when considering the site plan for the four buildings. Board Chair David Granzin also made that clear during the public hearing, where he repeatedly stressed that public comments should only refer to issues the planning board has jurisdiction over.
Multiple people both spoke in favor and against the site plan, with those opposed mostly stating their opposition based on environmental concerns, and those supporting the project doing so mostly in favor of the financial benefits.
"It was a very excellent process, you have to hand it to all the planning board, they took months of review and didn't take this lightly... I'm glad for the town of Torrey... it is going to be huge for [the] workers," Irwin said.
As part of the approval, Greenidge will have to run eight additional sound tests to establish the running of the additional mining computers will not violate local sound decibel limits of 72 during the day and 50 at night.
The current plan is to build the buildings and then run the test. If there is an issue, they would then go back to redesign and if there is no problem to move on.
Granzin mentioned they will build the buildings, populate them with computers, turn them on and then take measurements. The computers would then be turned off and additional measurements would be taken to determine the difference between the two.
Granzin added he thought Bitcoin mining was a waste of energy, but said that was not an issue that he was allowed to consider.
"Lots of things are a waste of energy, motorcycle racing is a waste of energy," Granzin said.
Board member Ellen Campbell, who voted against the site application, repeatedly cited her concern over not only the noise generated by the Bitcoin operation but by the previous noise testing ordered by Greenidge. At issue for Campbell was not only the scope of the testing but impartiality of the company hired to run the tests, with Campbell saying the fact Greenidge hired the company meant the test wasn't impartial.
In response, Greenidge officials offered for the town to hire any company they wanted for the additional sound tests and Greenidge would pick up the tab.
Local environmental groups, who have already filed a suit regarding the Bitcoin operation at Greenidge, have opposed the expansion for environmental reasons. This includes greenhouse gas emissions by the natural gas power plant and the use of Seneca Lake water to cool the generation equipment. Studies are ongoing to determine the impact of the heated water being returned to the Keuka Outlet and then Seneca Lake.
After the approval, Granzin said he was hopeful there would be no further litigation regarding the issue.
"I am not anticipating, but I would not be surprised," Granzin said.
Greenidge, who operates under permits issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation prior to the creation of the data mining venture, has long said they have always complied with all permits. Recognizing the complexity of the issue, the DEC recently issued a statement regarding Greenidge that promised further evaluation of the project.
"DEC is closely monitoring the operations of Greenidge Generation, a bitcoin mining operation in Torrey, New York, and current proposals for its expansion... As the greenhouse gas emissions associated with this type of facility may be precedential and have broader implications beyond New York's borders, DEC will consult with the U.S. EPA, the Climate Action Council, and others as we thoroughly evaluate the complex issues involved," the statement read in part.
For his part, Irwin seemed unconcerned.
"We follow all laws and regulations the DEC applied to us... we will study what they ask and do everything," Irwin said. "It is a normal course of business for us to work with the DEC and to fulfill every requirement we have."