Pin Oak Energy Elk County facility

Part of the Cryptomining Tracker, a project by FracTracker & Global Energy Monitor.

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Global Gas Plant Tracker

Pin Oak Energy Elk County facility is an operating cryptocurrency mine, located in Elk County, Pennslyvania.

Location

The map below shows the location of the Pin Oak Energy Elk County facility cryptocurrency mine.

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Background

In March 2019, Pin Oak Energy purchased property with access to Marcellus and conventional gas wells in Elk County, PA from an undisclosed seller. Marcellus refers to a deep natural gas reserve found in parts of Pennslyvania, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia. In the months after, a bitcoin mining operation was set up at the site including generators that convert the energy extracted from the natural gas well pad into electricity to power the mining equipment around the clock. Pin Oak Energy received a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) General Permit 5 (GP5) permit to install and operate "natural gas compression stations, processing plants, and transmission stations."

Since bitcoin mining operations started at the facility, neighbors began complaining about disruptive noises originating from the generators and the cooling equipment at the site. Locals have particularly expressed concern about the noises impacting their farm animals and, therefore, their livelihoods. In response, Pin Oak Energy maintained that the sound levels are in keeping with local ordinances and that they are taking steps to address the sound complaints such as installing sound absorption blankets. In March 2022, the Northwest Regional Office of the Pennsylvania DEP began investigating the issue and working with locals and Pin Oak Energy to address the issue. The DEP pointed out that its original permit did not authorize the installation of bitcoin mining equipment close to the gas well pad site. Pin Oak Energy agreed to develop a proposal to address all the concerns outlined by the DEP.

Project Details

• Power usage (MW):
• Owner: Pin Oak Energy
• Parent:
• Location: Long Level Road, Pin Oak, Pennslyvania
• Coordinates: 41.50762,-78.72167