The US government has proposed a new bill, the Clean Cloud Act, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from energy-intensive AI and crypto data centers. The legislation would impose CO2 penalties on facilities exceeding federally set thresholds, empowering the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce stricter standards.
If passed, the bill’s proponents argue that it will help the US stay at the cutting edge of AI technology while protecting natural resources for future generations. However, the crypto community has expressed concerns that the bill unfairly targets Bitcoin miners for their energy usage.
Some industry experts point out that Bitcoin mining and AI operations share similar energy demands, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Others argue that even if the bill passes, enforcement is unlikely without a court order from the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, countries like Pakistan are capitalizing on the US’s environmental efforts by leveraging surplus electricity to boost their own Bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure. This could potentially disrupt the global balance of power in the crypto space.
As the Clean Cloud Act awaits Senate approval, its future remains uncertain. However, with rising equipment costs and regulatory pressures, concerns are growing about a potential decline in domestic demand for Bitcoin mining rigs, prompting some manufacturers to export excess inventory globally.
Source: https://ambcrypto.com/can-bitcoin-survive-the-climate-crackdown-lawmakers-say-clean-it-up-or-else