Bitcoin miners turn to nuclear power plants for electricity

Cryptocurrency mining is a savagely energy consuming effort it doesn’t just pump more carbon emissions than some small countries, but quickly accumulates a small mountain rangeit’s worth it of electronic waste.

NOTNow apparently we can add radioactive waste to bitcoins list of unfortunate side effects on the environment. According to the the Wall Street newspaper, a number of bitcoin miners are conclude agreements with the local nuclear industry power stations. While nuclear is a cacarbon free source of power for mining rigs, there are probably better uses of these electrons.

A handful bitcoin miners sought earn money discusses some of the country’s ailing nuclear power plants, writes the Journal. A business, the Pennsylvania-based company Talen Energy Corp., told the newspaper that it recently entered into a “joint venture” with TerraWulf, a bitcoin transaction that invoice itself as the answer to “next-generation carbonless bitcoin mining,” whatever that means. According to the report, TerraWulf’s new mining facility will be stationed next to the Talen plant in Pennsylvania and will also be the size of “four football fields.”

As America’s nuclear fleet falters as reactors reach – and even surpass – retirement age, bitcoin mining may offer a way to keep operating. There are other options, however, including state-led bailouts. This would keep the electricity free of emissions floating while the world is racing to install enough renewable energies to clean the grill.

Ssome states that have tried courting bitcoin miners in an attempt to boost them savings, and nuclear power played a key role in the sales pitch. Note bitcoin fan and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, for example, confirmed to Bloomberg that his office had approached crypto-mining companies with the prospect of settling alongside the Turkey Point nuclear power plant in South Florida.

It should be noted here that last month the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on the many of Turkey Point, numerous safety issues, which include several staff members made redundant in the past year for forging safety inspections. So, uh, good luck to Suarez and his pitch.

Bitcoin has gained a reputation for consuming electricity and relying on the cheapest sources available, many of which are often very polluting. China’s coal-fired power plants kept GPUs running for the majority of mining operations around the world until the country started cracking down on bitcoin. Natural gas plants recently became mining hubs in upstate New York. Although it burns cleaner than coal in terms of carbon dioxide, the gas is also a major source of methane, a more potent greenhouse gas that the world’s leading scientists recently sounded the alarm bell about.

NOTNuclear power offers zero carbon emissions to generate electricity, although other parts of the process are a source of emissions. It also produces radioactive waste, of which approximately 85,000 metric tonnes is in the United States. current problem.