According to Cointelegraph, Stronghold Digital Mining, a crypto-mining company based in Pennsylvania, is seeking approval to produce up to 15% of its energy using shredded tires at its Panther Creek plant in Nesquehoning. Local environmental activists are preparing to oppose the initiative. Stronghold filed an application with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in July, requesting the use of Tire Derived Fuel (TDF), citing the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) approval to use this kind of energy source at other industrial facilities in the state.
TDF has been legal in the U.S. since 1991 and is used in combination with other fuels at four plants in Pennsylvania. However, local environment activists argue that the crypto mining facility should not be granted permission to use TDF. Russell Zerbo, an advocate with Clean Air Council, stated that the plant should be completely re-permitted as a solid waste incinerator, subject to increased air pollution monitoring requirements.
Charles McPhedran, an attorney with public interest environmental law organization Earthjustice, said that sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions increased significantly after Stronghold took over the Panther Creek plant in 2021. The company has been using waste coal to mine crypto, with an estimated 2 billion cubic yards of waste coal still polluting the environment throughout Pennsylvania.
Stronghold recently revealed its financial results for Q2 2023, mining 626 Bitcoin during the second quarter, a 43% increase compared to Q4 2022 and a 1% sequential growth compared to Q1 2023. This is despite the Bitcoin network hash rate rise of 39% and 23% during the same periods, respectively. The company generated revenue of $18.2 million and a net loss of $11.7 million.
