WASHINGTON, Tuesday, July 16, 2024 – The Department of Energy (DOE) announced July 10 that it had begun the process of drafting a new survey to collect data on electricity consumption by cryptocurrency miners.
The initiative follows a previous attempt earlier this year that was withdrawn after facing legal challenges from the Texas Blockchain Council.
The initial survey, issued under an emergency authorization, aimed to gather data on the energy footprint of bitcoin mining operations in the United States. However, the industry group argued the process lacked proper review and targeted sensitive proprietary information.
The DOE emphasized that the new survey will undergo a full public comment period before being implemented. The agency aims to use the collected data to inform energy policy decisions and promote transparency within the cryptocurrency mining sector.
Energy Information Administration (EIA) hosted a public discussion, led by Steve Harvey, to design a better survey.
In February, the Texas Blockchain Council and Bitcoin mining firm Riot Platforms sued the DoE for its “targeted misuse of government emergency authority” after sending a detailed survey to Bitcoin miners about their energy usage and business practices. The EIA had to destroy received information and withdraw the survey.
Harvey noted the EIA aims to address what factors are most important, what data to collect, and if existing information could reduce survey costs. The new survey will require DoE approval, a 60-day public comment period, and a subsequent 30-day review after incorporating feedback.
The DoE’s initiative reflects a collaborative approach with industry participants to gather essential data on the energy consumption of crypto mining operations.
