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It's only economical to mine in areas with significant excess power, mostly around dams, but also wind farms and regions powered by geothermal. If anything, min

by px43 6y ago

It's only economical to mine in areas with significant excess power, mostly around dams, but also wind farms and regions powered by geothermal. If anything, mining subsidizes green energy projects, and drives interest in cheaper and more efficient energy production, as well as more efficient semiconductor technologies.

exabrial 6y ago
I really don't think that's true except in pockets of the usa or europe with free markets (the power part)
- px43 6y ago
  Not at all. Also very much true in China. Miners are largely concentrated around the Sichuan area, which is also well known for their massive investments in hydroelectric power.
  - exabrial 6y ago
    So essentially it's wasted as heat instead of being used to replace carbon sourced sources
terse_malvolio 6y ago
Subsidize? I think it's the opposite. Mining parasitizes on the cheapness of electric power.
- px43 6y ago
  That's just how markets work right? The important thing is that these power networks are getting utilized, and that money can be reinvested in building out more green energy projects. This is a net win for everyone involved.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - notahacker 6y ago
    How markets work is if you use more of a thing, productive resources that were destined to be shut down or only used as spare capacity like coal plants stay open. China wasn't reluctant to invest in or not expecting to get a ROI from new power stations before 'miners' moved in.