Concerns are growing about the energy-intensive needs of cryptocurrency mining for Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and other currencies.

What can be done about the energy intensive needs of cryptocurrency mining? The utilities that run the complex algorithms of cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, USD Coin, Avalanche, or Bitcoin, absorb huge amounts of energy. This has raised concerns about the environmental impact, and even competition for electricity from homes and businesses and the development of technologies such as electric cars.

In the episode A deeper shade of greenFengqui You, a professor of energy systems engineering at Cornell University from the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, points out some ways such processes could be put into operation. To reduce climate and other environmental impacts, it is suggested that electricity come from clean, renewable sources. But he adds that this clean energy cannot be taken from the natural needs of society. Building more renewable energy sources, perhaps through cryptocurrency mining operations, is one path. Another solution is to find surplus energy, he offers, that is now largely wasted and can be devoted to this purpose.

Music for this episode of A deeper shade of green comes from Syracuse-based jazz group ESPThe song arrives.
Production, research and guest booking assistance by Hector Perez.