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The United States is embarking on a significant initiative to monitor the energy usage of cryptocurrency mines. This decision, led by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Information Administration (EIA), comes amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of these operations, according to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/31/24057176/crypto-bitcoin-mining-survey-us-energy-information-administration">The Verge</a>. 
Joe DeCarolis, the administrator of the EIA, emphasized the need to understand the evolving energy demands of cryptocurrency mining. The EIA will start a provisional survey of <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/minnesota-man-faces-accusations-of-electricity-theft-for-bitcoin-mining/">electricity</a> consumption by identified cryptocurrency mining companies. This move follows an "emergency collection of data request" authorized by the Office of Management and Budget. 
This initiative gained momentum after <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/immersion-cooling-transforms-chinas-crypto-mining-landscape/">China</a>'s ban on Bitcoin mining in 2021, which led to the US becoming the world's largest hub for this activity. The surge in mining activities raised concerns among lawmakers and activists due to its significant energy consumption. In some cases, it even led to the resurrection of fossil fuel power plants and increased electricity costs in regions like New York. 
In 2022, Democratic lawmakers requested major US crypto mining companies to disclose their electricity usage and associated pollution. The lack of comprehensive data from these companies led to <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/proposed-30-crypto-mining-tax-dropped-in-debt-ceiling-deal/">Congress</a> urging the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mandate public disclosure of this information. 
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm confirmed the EIA's authority to require energy usage reporting from crypto operations. This step will necessitate the development of a new survey for data collection. The EIA might also compel utilities to disclose the amount of electricity sold to these companies.

US Tightens Grip on Crypto Mining with Mandatory Energy Reporting

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