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In a decision that rocked the crypto <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/texas-residents-challenge-bitcoin-mining-industrys-impact-on-power-grid-and-communities/">mining industry</a>, Kentucky's Public Service Commission has rejected Ebon International's bid for a discounted <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/crypto-mining-with-flare-gas-a-green-solution-or-environmental-setback/">electricity</a> rate. Ebon International had proposed a $50 million investment in a 100-megawatt crypto mining facility in Louisa, Kentucky. The company even had an ambitious plan to scale the operation up to 250 MW by 2024. However, their dreams came to a screeching halt with the commission's decision. 
Environmental groups are celebrating the move. Organizations like Earthjustice and Greenpeace USA lauded the decision. Joshua Archer, the Bitcoin Campaign Lead for Greenpeace USA, pointed out that the facility would have prolonged the life of the Big Sandy gas plant until 2041. Because of this, it would have further contributed to climate change. Archer also mentioned that such facilities are major sources of pollution and extend a lifeline to the fossil fuel industry. 
In addition to environmental concerns, the decision also centered around the economic impact on average energy consumers. Granting the discounted rate to Ebon would have shifted the financial burden onto everyday citizens. The commission's ruling indicates a strong message that the needs of average energy consumers trump the business interests of crypto <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/blockstream-aims-for-bitcoin-profit-with-mining-rig-investment-ahead-of-2024-halving/">mining companies</a>. 
Kentucky has been a prominent hub for Bitcoin mining in the <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/pennsylvania-a-new-hub-for-cryptomining-ignites-environmental-concerns/">United States</a>, along with states like <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/texas-residents-challenge-bitcoin-mining-industrys-impact-on-power-grid-and-communities/">Texas</a>, Georgia, and New York. Yet, each of these states faces mounting pressure from environmental groups to reconsider their lenient stances. Last November, New York even signed a proof-of-work mining moratorium into law, and <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/texas-residents-challenge-bitcoin-mining-industrys-impact-on-power-grid-and-communities/">Texas</a> followed suit with a bill removing mining incentives this past April. 
This setback for Ebon International and, by extension, the crypto <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/texas-residents-challenge-bitcoin-mining-industrys-impact-on-power-grid-and-communities/">mining industry</a>, prompts several questions about the future. Will companies like Ebon start to look elsewhere, perhaps to states with more lenient regulations? However, even if they do, they will likely face an uphill battle against increasing scrutiny from environmental watchdogs. Overall, this case serves as a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle to balance economic gain with environmental sustainability. 
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Kentucky Nixes Energy Subsidy for Ebon International’s Proposed Crypto Mining Hub, Prioritizing Environment and Consumer Interests

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