- The Texas Blockchain Council and Riot Platforms have sued the US Department of Energy.
- The plaintiffs seek an injunction against the collection of information on bitcoin miners initiated by a number of government agencies.
- Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the EIA and the OMB are also being sued.
The Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and cryptocurrency mining company Riot Platforms filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE). The plaintiffs have requested a ban on the “emergency” collection of data on bitcoin miners, which was previously initiated by some government organizations.
According to the documents, the petitioners believe that the actions of the government agencies are illegal. The DoE requested the emergency collection of proprietary information of cryptocurrency mining companies regarding detailed electricity consumption in early 2024. For this purpose, the DoE has issued relevant orders to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The government organizations required bitcoin miners to provide the necessary data by February 23, 2024. EIA representatives said that if they do not receive the information in a timely manner, the companies will harm the infrastructure and environment of the United States.
Analysts note that the said collection was initiated after the country experienced a significant cold snap. It coincided with a marked increase in the activity of bitcoin miners in connection with the increase in the rate of the first cryptocurrency.
The plaintiffs pointed out that the government is bypassing the existing rules for filing information about the activities of such companies. US authorities are required by law to notify firms of data collection activities 60 days in advance.
“The EIA’s actions represent a troubling precedent for government interference with private industry without sufficient justification or due process,” the statement said.
The petitioners call the authorities’ actions “negligent and contrived.” It is also worth noting that in addition to the DoE, sued the Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, the EIA and the U.S. Office of Administration and Budget.
Recall, we wrote that the miners in 2023 equaled Australia in the amount of electricity consumed.
