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"The plant," referred to by Lanni, is Greenridge Generation, a former coal power plant just outside the village of Dresden that now operates as a bitcoin mining facility.
Do coal plants produce oil as a byproduct, do they use it as a lubricant, or are they mining with oil?
Ah, according to this earlier piece, they're using natural gas:
At the Dresden facility, water from Seneca Lake is used to cool the plant, then returned back to the lake at a warmer temperature. Further, the natural gas used to power the plant emits greenhouse gases that opponents say are doing irreparable harm to air quality.
Still confused about where the oil would come from.
this territory is moderated
From turbines probably, they use oil. If they have a damage they leak oil. But nearly all turbines use oil, so it can be a water turbine or a gas turbine. A big problem is heating of the lake. They mention a harmful algae bloom and that you can not even use the water for a shower.
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I asked ChatGPT about the article and oil origin:
Yes, there was definitely an oil spill — confirmed by both the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Greenidge Generation, the company that operates the Bitcoin mining and power generation facility.
🔎 What spilled?
The DEC described the incident as a leak of an oil-and-water mixture from one of the facility’s turbines.
🛠️ Where would oil come from in a Bitcoin mining facility?
While Bitcoin mining itself doesn’t directly involve oil, the Greenidge plant is not just a crypto-mining site — it’s also a natural gas power plant that generates electricity both for the grid and for its mining operations. Here’s how oil factors in: 1. Turbine Lubrication Oil: • The facility uses turbines to generate electricity. • These turbines require large volumes of lubricating oil to reduce friction, cool moving parts, and ensure smooth operation. • The oil circulates in closed systems but leaks or overflows can happen — especially in older or heavily used machinery. 2. Transformer or Hydraulic Fluids: • Some systems may also use hydraulic oil or transformer oil, which are hydrocarbon-based and can also leak under high pressure or heat. 3. Oil Storage Tanks: • Power plants often have on-site tanks for turbine oil, diesel (for backup generators), or other industrial lubricants. • Improper storage, aging seals, or equipment failure can lead to spills.
🧯 What happened in this case? • A turbine at Greenidge leaked the oil-water mixture. • It entered an approved stormwater drainage system but ultimately made its way into a nearby marshland. • Officials say it did not reach Seneca Lake, though residents remain skeptical and report unusual foam and algae growth.
🧬 Why does this matter?
Even a relatively small amount of turbine oil is toxic to aquatic life and can disrupt sensitive ecosystems. And when the facility is located so close to Seneca Lake — a key source of drinking water and tourism — community trust and environmental transparency are critical.
If you’d like, I can help you draft a formal letter or public comment requesting more details from DEC or Greenidge — or help analyze the spill report once it’s released.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Akg10s3 6h
Thanks for sharing⚡
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