The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has agreed to destroy data collected to date in an effort to end a lawsuit brought by several industry players, including Riot Platforms and the Texas Blockchain Commission.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has agreed to cease an emergency investigation into bitcoin miners as part of a deal to end a lawsuit filed by several industry players, including the Texas Blockchain Commission.
The EIA must destroy any investigative information it has received and any information it has yet to receive, according to court documents dated March 1. It must also quarantine or keep confidential the data until it is destroyed.
The controversial survey was designed to collect data on how much energy miners use. However, the industry responded with a lawsuit, arguing that the survey would "irreparably damage operations" by forcing miners to reveal "confidential information."
Terms of Agreement
As part of the agreement, the EIA will publish a new notice in the Federal Register to restart the investigation process from scratch, revoking and replacing the February 9 notice that did not solicit comments and feedback.
New notices must allow for a 60-day comment period, after which the EIA may conduct an investigation in accordance with certain statutory and regulatory provisions.
In addition, the EIA must consider the comments submitted on both the new notice and the February 9 notice, as well as those submitted to the new notice.
EIA and the other defendants will also pay plaintiffs (Riot Platforms and the Texas Blockchain Commission) $2,199.45 to cover legal fees and litigation costs.
Controversial investigation
The EIA began collecting data from mining companies in late January after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) authorized the investigation as an emergency request. The controversial survey is closely tied to the Biden administration's policies, particularly the energy policies outlined in its Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
The agency is concerned that bitcoin mining could accelerate as prices rise, leading to increased energy consumption during periods of high demand and cold weather.
Republican Congressman Tom Emmer has voiced his opposition to the investigation, expressing his disapproval on Feb. 22. In addition to denying that Bitcoin mining poses a threat, Emmer noted that the EIA justified the investigation based on emergency policies but failed to introduce the required comment period.
Industry players, including Riot Platforms, the Chamber of Digital Commerce and the Texas Blockchain Commission, sued the investigation, resulting in a court-approved temporary stay until March 24.
Following legal action, the EIA suspended its attempts to collect data on February 24. #比特币挖矿 #调查
