House Democrats See Energy Threats, Opportunities In Cryptocurrencies

House Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats are calling attention to the high energy use and sometimes adverse climate impacts of cryptocurrency “mining” operations but are also seeking ways for the sector to reduce its energy consumption and promote renewable energy sources, as cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin gain popularity. At a Jan. 20 hearing of the committee’s panel on oversight and investigations, Democratic lawmakers criticized some cryptocurrency miners for their use of greenhouse gas-intensive fossil fuel sources to power operations. Some...