USK, Wash-The old Ponderay Newsprint Company is now home to thousands of crypto mines.
Merkle Standard wants to make money for the region and use Washington’s hydroelectric energy to get back to work in the industry.
The once booming paper mill turned on again in January.
“Specifically, during the first two months of January and February 2022, we will pay more than $ 292,000 in taxes and send them directly to Pend Oreille County,” said Chief Operating Officer Monty Stahl. ..
The machine that converts pulp to paper has provided work to many at Usk, such as Todd Behrend, a former engineer and current general manager.
Next to it are over 2,000 cryptocurrency mines. They are small but more powerful processors than computers.
These hold the equivalent of digital ledgers and algorithms.
“The algorithm determines which coins are being mined and directs communication with the Internet to the wallet,” Behrend said.
The two cryptocurrencies mined at the facility are Bitcoin and Ethereum. Machines generate revenue, but they also emit the energy that Merkle Standard says is used to heat buildings.
Markle Standard promises a carbon-neutral footprint by the end of the year, according to Stahl, but neighbors in the region are concerned about the heat and environmental impact that all electricity can generate. ing.
The Natural Resources Defense Council Given the tight schedule of the world to reach net-zero emissions, the crypto boom is said to cause major problems.
Crypto has a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions due to the extreme computer power required to carry out the buying and selling of crypto coins.
Petition started by a neighbor It is necessary to conduct a survey to investigate the impact of the operation of Merkle Standard on the environment.
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