Summary
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is pushing back against a request to collect data from bitcoin mining operations in the US, arguing that bitcoin miners do not pose a threat to public safety. The Energy Information Administration wants to conduct a survey on the energy usage of bitcoin mining, which has drawn attention from policymakers concerned about cost, reliability, and emissions. The EIA has identified 137 bitcoin mining facilities across 21 states and is requesting details on their energy use. Emmer is questioning the OMB’s decision to grant emergency authorization for the survey and wants to know if companies will face criminal charges for not responding. The EIA plans to start collecting data immediately and share preliminary results by the middle of the year.
Key Points
1. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is opposed to the emergency request for data collection on bitcoin mining operations in the US, citing that bitcoin miners do not pose a threat to public safety.
2. The Energy Information Administration estimates that bitcoin mining in the US accounts for between 0.6% and 2.3% of electricity consumption, drawing concerns from policymakers about its impact on cost, reliability, and emissions.
3. Emmer is questioning the OMB’s decision to use emergency authorization for the survey and is seeking clarification on potential criminal charges against companies that refuse to respond, while the EIA plans to start collecting data immediately and share preliminary results by mid-year.