A new bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate aimed at regulating carbon emissions from cryptocurrency mining companies. The legislation proposes new reporting requirements and assessments of the industry’s environmental impact.
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) presented the Clean Cloud Act, which would require operators of large-scale crypto mining facilities to disclose data on electricity consumption and related carbon emissions.
The document emphasizes that the initiative is designed to reduce the negative environmental effects of crypto mining and alleviate pressure on local power grids. According to the bill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be responsible for conducting annual assessments of mining operations’ greenhouse gas emissions. Operators consuming over 5 MW of power would be required to submit comprehensive data about their operations, including the type of energy used and CO₂ emission levels.
The bill also allows the EPA to implement mandatory control measures if a mining facility poses a significant environmental threat or violates clean air standards.
Representatives from the mining industry voiced concerns over the bill’s potential implications, fearing increased costs and restrictions on operations in certain regions. Meanwhile, environmental advocates support the initiative, viewing it as a step toward more sustainable use of digital technologies.
The proposal is part of a broader U.S. government effort to bring regulatory clarity and enforce standards within the crypto industry. Recently, the acting chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) outlined the agency’s plans to apply securities laws to digital assets. Senator Tim Scott, Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, recently expressed confidence that a comprehensive bill on digital asset market structure will pass by August this year.
