Greenidge Generation fossil-fueled Bitcoin mining operation, Yates County, New York. Yet the damage it has caused to Seneca Lake’s environment has become the focus of an extreme controversy. Local residents, environmental advocates and state officials have long trumpeted the operations of the plant as detrimental. Some of these operations even involve dumping superheated water back into the lake and spewing toxic air pollutants into the atmosphere.

Greenidge is the first vertically integrated power generator and Bitcoin miner of scale in the US. It fuels New York state’s energy grid, providing enough energy to power 20,000 residential and commercial customers. Yet, despite its undeniable utility, the environmental impact of the program has come under withering fire.

The heart of the matter is Greenidge’s daily discharge of up to 103 million gallons of heated, nutrient-laden water into Seneca Lake. Critics argue that this thermal pollution threatens the lake's delicate ecosystem and water quality, potentially harming aquatic life and disrupting the natural balance.

In addition to water pollution, Greenidge's operations release toxic pollutants, such as formaldehyde and benzene, which settle over nearby vineyards and residential areas. These emissions have serious health impacts and contribute to the climate crisis and environmental injustice.

"The Finger Lakes are among New York’s most valued natural resources, and we must protect them, not just for us, but for future generations," - state Sen. Rachel May

The fight over Greenidge hasn’t just ignited recently—it has been a years-long, recurring battle. Local businesses like Billsboro Winery have over the years experienced the effects of the plant’s work, increasing the opposition.

Seneca Lake Guardian vice president Yvonne Taylor has been a leading opponent of Greenidge’s pollution. State Sen. Rachel May participated in a demonstration against the facility. Yet her participation serves to underscore the growing political urgency around this escalating crisis.

"We're here today because three years ago we were celebrating the denial of the Greenidge permit on the grounds that it violated New York's climate law," - Seneca Lake Guardian vice president Yvonne Taylor

Liz Moran, an Earthjustice policy advocate in New York, who recently commented on the issue. She reminds us all—especially those in power—to put public health and environmental protection before private corporate profit. These are all bedrock American values with which Greenidge’s operations are fundamentally at odds, according to critics—clean water, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable local economies.

"Permitting a fossil-fueled Bitcoin mining operation like Greenidge to continue polluting our air and water after a permit denial undermines the values we cherish: clean water, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable local economies. This isn’t just about a single facility. It’s about preserving our environmental protections to safeguard our drinking water, agriculture, tourism, and quality of life." - state Sen. Rachel May

Over three years since the first public outcry, and despite the close-knit community’s diligent opposition, Greenidge is still operating. Advocates, including Yvonne Taylor, have vowed to continue their fight against Greenidge and other corporate entities that threaten the Finger Lakes region.

"Your voice matters. And we won't stop fighting until the Finger Lakes is free from this and all other corporate menaces. Once and for all." - Taylor