Pennsylvania HB 1210: An Act providing for reporting requirements for qualifying crypto-asset mining operations and for an impact study; and imposing duties on the Department of Environmental Protection.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1358
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1210
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY VITALI, GIRAL, PIELLI, RIVERA, HILL-EVANS,
FREEMAN, PROBST, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ, HOWARD, D. WILLIAMS,
STEELE AND K.HARRIS, APRIL 15, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE
PROTECTION, APRIL 15, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for reporting requirements for qualifying crypto-asset
mining operations and for an impact study; and imposing
duties on the Department of Environmental Protection.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the
Cryptocurrency Reporting Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Blockchain." A distributed ledger technology in which the
data:
(1) is shared across a network that creates a digital
ledger of verified transactions or information among network
participants; and
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(2) is typically linked using cryptography to maintain
the integrity of the ledger and execute other functions,
including transfer of ownership or value.
"Consensus mechanism." A process to achieve agreement among
network participants on the current state of a blockchain.
"Crypto-asset mining." The process of performing
computations to add a valid block of data to a blockchain,
typically in exchange for a reward or fee using a proof of work
consensus mechanism and excluding computations required to
validate individual transactions.
"Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
the Commonwealth.
"Environmental justice area." A geographic area that is
identified or designated by the department and characterized by
increased pollution burden and vulnerable populations based on
demographic, economic, health and environmental data.
"Power load." The amount of electrical power, in megawatts,
that is consumed by a qualifying crypto-asset mining operation.
"Qualifying crypto-asset mining operation." A crypto-asset
mining operation located in this Commonwealth at:
(1) one location that has a power load greater than or
equal to five megawatts;
(2) more than one location that has a cumulative power
load that is greater than or equal to five megawatts; or
(3) a natural gas well site.
Section 3. Reporting requirements for qualifying crypto-asset
mining operations.
(a) Initial reporting.--No later than six months after the
effective date of this subsection, the owner of a qualifying
crypto-asset mining operation shall submit the following
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information to the department on a form prescribed by the
department:
(1) The number and geographic locations of the
qualifying crypto-asset mining operation.
(2) The number and type of devices engaged in crypto-
asset mining purchased and retired by the qualifying crypto-
asset mining operation in the past year.
(3) The amount of electric energy consumed by the
qualifying crypto-asset mining operation, including the time
of electricity usage.
(4) The source or sources of electric generation for all
electric energy consumed by the qualifying crypto-asset
mining operation, including the type of fuel used by the
electric generating facility.
(5) Any other information deemed necessary by the
department.
(b) Ongoing reporting.--Prior to starting operations in this
Commonwealth and annually while operations continue, a
qualifying crypto-asset mining operation shall submit the
information required under subsection (a) to the department.
(c) Form and publication of operation.--The department shall
prepare a form that includes all of the information required
under subsections (a) and (b) and shall post the information
submitted to the department under this section on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 4. Impact study by department.
(a) Duty to issue.--No later than one year after the
effective date of this subsection, the department, in
consultation with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission,
shall conduct a study of and issue a report on all of the
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following:
(1) The number and location of any existing or planned
qualifying crypto-asset mining operations, including any
operations located in an environmental justice area.
(2) The anticipated increase of new, and expansion of
existing, qualifying crypto-asset mining operations.
(3) The potential impacts of electric energy consumption
by qualifying crypto-asset mining operations, including by
prolonging the use of fossil fuel generators.
(4) The ecological impacts, including ecological impacts
associated with electronic waste generation and the use or
discharge of cooling water, caused by qualif