Local residents of Carbon County joined the Clean Air Council and PennFuture for a virtual press conference Thursday urging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to reject crypto-mining power plant Panther Creek’s request to burn tires for their operations.

The press conference came just days ahead of a scheduled DEP public hearing.

The Panther Creek power plant, a waste coal-fired power plant in Nesquehoning that is home to thousands of bitcoin mining machines, submitted a permit proposal this past summer to the DEP requesting permission to burn tire derived fuel.

Environmental organizations and nearby residents previously raised concerns over this type of fuel due to the risk to human and environmental health.

DEP proposed approval this fall, but is holding a public meeting to hear from the community on Monday from 6-9:30 p.m. at Panther Valley High School.

Ahead of the DEP’s final decision on the permit request, Save Carbon County members called on DEP to reject Panther Creek’s request.

In 2021, Stronghold Digital Mining Inc. acquired Panther Creek to generate cryptocurrency by burning waste coal. They are now requesting to incinerate 15% of its fuel from shredded tires. TDF is often burned alongside conventional fuels like coal.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that burning tires creates emissions of polyaromatic hydrocarbons which are known to contain at least seven carcinogens. DEP has also recognized at least seven carcinogens present in PAHs.

“Our organization, Save Carbon County, is focused on preserving the unique environment of Carbon County. The coal regions of our county seem to be attractive as a location for industries that pollute and would not be accepted in wealthier communities. The cumulative impact of these degrading uses is a real impediment to economic recovery in the region and to the quality of life for residents,” said Linda Christman, resident of Carbon County and the president of Save Carbon County.

“Since Panther Creek started generating cryptocurrency it has not justified that it contributes more than one-third of its potential electric output capacity to a public utility for sale,” said Russell Zerbo, an advocate with the nonprofit Clean Air Council. “Panther Creek must explain how much of its power is for public use. Impacted residents do not deserve to be exposed to the increased carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbon pollution that is caused by burning tires.”