Protect Seneca Lake and Town of Torrey Residents
From the Greenidge Power Plant & Bitcoin Mining Data Center in Our Backyard
Recent History and NYS DEC Lack of Environmental Protections
In September 2015 Greenidge owners proposed and were approved to restart the previously coal powered plant in the
Town of Torrey right outside of Dresden, NY. Greenidge is now using natural gas and at peak operation will cause
Seneca Lake to absorb up to 190,000,000 gallons of water per day (GPD) at temperatures up to 108 degrees.
WHY DO WE CARE?
Water Quality and Health Implications – In 2018, Governor Cuomo announced “Seneca Lake has the largest volume of
water of the Finger Lakes and is designated by New York State as a Class AA-(TS) water body, suitable for drinking water,
recreation, and fishing. Seneca Lake has experienced HABs of high toxicity during 2015, 2016 and 2017.
(https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-pilot-project-combat-harmful-algal-blooms-skaneatelesowasco-and) The blooms reappeared in 2018 and 2019, when the plant was operating, but only operating at 6% capacity.
Biochemist Gregory Boyer of SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, perhaps the region’s leading HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) expert, warned
against starting up the Greenidge power plant with their outdated once-through cooling technology because it will increase water
temperatures in the Dresden Bay area of Seneca Lake that could result in increased HABs outbreaks in that area. Greenidge is
planning to expand operations into a bitcoin mining data center which will substantially increase the amount of heated water
discharged into Seneca Lake.
Reduction in Fish Population – The technology currently used by Greenidge, withdraws up to 139 million gallons per day
and used it to cool the turbines used to make electricity and discharges the heated water into Keuka Outlet. The intake pulls
fish, eggs, and larvae into the plant. In 2017, NYS DEC directed Greenidge to install CWWS (Cylindrical Wedgewire Screens).
Originally this technology was supposed to be installed by September 2019. The NYS DEC has now allowed Greenidge to
delay this until 2023.
Tax Breaks – Allegedly the plant and the expansion are supposed to create and retain 20 good paying jobs for local
residents. So far we have not been able to verify these claims. In addition to not adding much to the workforce, Greenidge has
received approvals from the FLEDC (Finger Lakes Economic Development Center) for PILOTS (payment in lieu of taxes) and a
reduced tax assessment from $50M (when the former power plant was operational) to $6M, significantly reducing their property
taxes and their contribution to the tax base. In addition, the State Economic Development Corporation awarded in 2015,
“Greenidge Power Plant received a $2 million ESD Grant in Round 5 of the CFA to convert an existing power project is in-process.
Plant located in Yates County into one that can burn 100% natural gas. The Project will create permanent entry level, skilled and other
full and part-time employment opportunities, temporary construction jobs, and act as a catalyst for further development of industry and
other business enterprises in the region”.
(https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2017-
12/2017ProgressReportFingerLakes.pdf)
Potential for Noise Pollution – Greenidge has commissioned a noise assessment for this expansion that projects there will be
no additional noise in our community. But Greenidge cannot guarantee this. If the noise assessment is not accurate, the expansion
will already be installed and Greenidge will be required by the Town of Torrey to rectify this. It is unclear as to how long this
would take and if it will even be possible. It could mean a long and expensive legal battle for our Town. The Committee is
working on a project for the community to measure current noise from the plant.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?
There has been limited demand for power from the NYSEG power grid. Greenidge operated at roughly 6% capacity in 2019 as a
peaker power plant. Greenidge is changing their model to include producing power for a bitcoin mining data center which
includes power as a part of their data center services to their tenants. Power generation for their own use is considered to be
“behind the meter”. They plan to ramp up to 100% capacity over time as they add tenants. Using their own power for bitcoin
mining allows them to keep up their power production and side-step the limitations on fossil-fuel power going into the grid in the NYS
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and its goal of net-zero carbon economy by 2050, including 70%
renewable energy by 2030 and decarbonization of the electric sector by 2040.
WHAT IS NEEDED – It is time to require that Greenidge install closed-cycle cooling and for the NYS DEC to
complete a full environmental impact statement (EIS). Closed-cycle cooling uses less than 1% of the water used by
once-through cooling. Instead of using up to approximately 139,000,000 GPD of water from Seneca Lake, Greenidge could
reduce its water use to approximately a little over 1,000,000 GPD. With dramatically reduced water use, the impacts of hot
water discharges and fish kills would be greatly reduced. This is a blatant case of a corporation pulling strings to the detriment
of those who live and work in the Finger Lakes and use Seneca Lake for drinking water and recreation. Greenidge and the
proposed expansion, has the potential to negatively impact our community, Seneca Lake, and the multimillion-dollar tourism
business for the profit of an out of state parent company (Atlas Holdings LLC, Greenwich CT).
——-WHAT CAN WE DO? ————- TOGETHER WE CAN HELP! ——-
● Learn More – Check out Peter Mantius’ blog https://waterfrontonline.blog to get more information.
● Attend the Town of Torrey Planning Board (3rd Monday @ 7pm) and Town of Torrey Board (2nd
Tuesday @7:30pm) meetings https://www.townoftorrey.org/ who will decide whether Greenidge can
continue down this path by installing 8 buildings housing over 4,000 servers for their business. Ask that
any new expansions be tabled until the total picture, environmentally and financially, can be examined
before we allow this business to expand.
o The Town of Torrey Zoning Law states under Review Criteria (98.105) “2. The proposed use will not
adversely impact adjacent properties, existing infrastructure or environmentally sensitive features on or
near the site such as steep slopes, Seneca Lake or other bodies of water, water courses, the Outlet Trail,
mature woodlands, or wetlands; 3. The proposed use will not adversely impact adjacent properties with
regard to unreasonable disturbances such as noise, light, glare, vibration, shadow, vapors, smoke,
fumes, dust, particulate emissions or odors.”
The Town of Torrey Zoning Law states under Site Plan Review Process (98.106) “Planning Board Review”
The Planning Board may refer an application for a permit to the Yates County Soil and Water Conservation District and/or to a New York State certified professional or other qualified persons for review and submission of a written report. If such a review is deemed necessary, the applicant shall deposit with the Torrey Town Clerk the amount estimated by the Planning Board to reimburse the Town of Torrey for the cost of such service. Any amount remaining after payment of the costs shall be returned to the applicant.”
▪ These sections of the Town of Torrey Zoning Law give the Planning Board the authority and
responsibility to fully explore the impacts to residents and the environment prior to approval.
● Attend the Village of Dresden (3rd Wednesday @ 7pm) meetings and ask elected representatives to
support having a complete environmental impact statement (EIS) completed by the DEC and a full
financial review be conducted, including their PILOTS with the Finger Lakes Economic Development
Center (FLEDC).
● Contact the Finger Lakes Economic Development Center (FLEDC) https://www.fingerlakesedc.com and
ask that they review and consider re-negotiating the PILOTS with Greenidge.
● Check out and join the “Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes” FaceBook Page, a local
environmental advocacy group, calling for the existing Greenidge SPDES (State Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System) permit be modified to require closed-cycle cooling and for a full environmental
impact statement (EIS) to be completed prior to allowing any further expansion to occur.