The Texas Blockchain Council (TBC), a non-profit industry association, has filed a lawsuit against the Energy Information Administration (EIA) regarding the collection of data on cryptocurrency mining.
The EIA, which is part of the US Department of Energy, recently announced a mandatory survey aimed at assessing electricity consumption by cryptocurrency mining activities in the US. The TBC indicated that mining operations are being requested to provide detailed information, including specifications of the machinery used, specific locations of their operations, and contractual details with commercial energy partners.
The legal filing described the situation as “a case about sloppy government process, contrived and self-inflicted urgency, and invasive government data collection.” In a press release, TBC labeled the lawsuit as part of “a broader pattern of regulatory overreach that threatens the very fabric of innovation and economic growth.”
TBC’s action is supported by one of its members, Riot Platforms. Lee Bratcher, president of the TBC, stated that the EIA’s actions set a troubling precedent for government intrusion into private industry operations without adequate justification or due process. He emphasized that this survey does not pertain to grid stability, as cryptocurrency miners are among the most adaptable loads on the grid, but instead represents a politically motivated initiative led by individuals such as Elizabeth Warren.