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Gas-fired power plant is not needed to satisfy the state’s energy demand, regulator said The move came after the state legislature passed a bill in June to restrict carbon-fueled crypto mining operations A New York regulator has denied bitcoin mining operation Greenidge Generation’s application Thursday to renew an air permit required to continue operating in the state.

In the rejection letter , NYSDEC said Greenidge Generation’s conversion to a cryptocurrency mining operation meant “it was creating a significant new demand for energy for a wholly new purpose unrelated to its original permit” and that granting the permit would enable Greenidge to continue increasing its greenhouse gas emissions.

The agency added that the plant was operating “primarily to meet its own significant new energy load,” rather than helping to satisfy the state’s electricity needs.

In a statement , Greenidge, claiming the regulator had no legal basis for denying the application, said it would continue operating under its current Title V Air Permit while challenging the regulator’s decision.

“If no appeal is filed, any ongoing operations that generate emissions from the facility would be unlawful without a valid Title V permit,” a NYSDEC spokesperson told Blockworks.