At least 34 large-scale Bitcoin mining operations in the U.S. are putting intense pressure on the power grid, creating carbon pollution — and, in some places, higher electricity bills — for the people around them, a New York Times investigation has found. Altogether, the mining operations that The Times identified consume more than 3,900 megawatts of electricity, which is nearly as much as the three million households that surround them. In some areas, Bitcoin mining operations have caused energy prices to surge. In Texas, where 10 of these mines are connected to the state’s grid, the increased demand has caused electric bills for power customers to rise nearly 5%, or $1.8 billion per year. Many large Bitcoin mines promote themselves as environmentally friendly, but have actually become a boon for the fossil fuel industry. #bitcoin #bitcoinmining