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Cryptocurrency Mining in Texas
November 9, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
There is approximately 2 gigawatts (GW) of cryptocurrency load capacity within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). As of mid-2022, ERCOT had 33 GW of cryptocurrency mining in its interconnection queue. The potential increase in power demand was so high that ERCOT established a new interim process and a special task force for determining new rules for interconnecting large loads, such as cryptocurrency mining operations.
The question for the debate is the following: Should policymakers encourage cryptocurrency mining in Texas?
This question will be the subject of an Oxford-style public debate hosted by three groups at the University of Texas at Austin – the Energy Institute, KBH Energy Center for Business, Law and Policy, and Planet Texas 2050.
We’ll hear from experts both for and against expanding cryptocurrency mining in Texas, considering factors related to the environment, economy, equity, and accountability. The audience will vote on their position before and after the debate, and the winner will be the team that changes their numbers the most between votes.
Light bites and refreshments will be served.