Coal Region community raises funds for legal battle to fight tire-burning permit

Community members and a grassroots organization held a fundraiser to appeal a cryptocurrency company's tire burning permit application.

That appeal adds to Save Carbon County's legal fight against Stronghold Digital Mining and Gov. Josh Shapiro over allegations of environmental pollution and claims for tax credits, according to the lawsuit filed on March 26.

Stronghold Digital Mining and its subsidiary, Panther Creek Electric Generating Facility, burn waste coal to generate electricity for cryptocurrency mining. They asked the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) a permit to use tire-derived fuel (TDF) to supplement 15 percent of their monthly electricity consumption by weight.

Linda Christman, president of Save Carbon, explained why her organization plans to appeal the permit in a separate legal action.

“If we win the lawsuit, the company will have to do many things to improve its situation. And if they get the permit to burn tires, they will revoke it... But that's probably two years away. [from now,]Christman said.

Christman and Save Carbon's attorneys at Freiwald Law say the lawsuit can be resolved in two years, but they fear the DEP will approve the TDF permit beforehand. According to Christman, a successful appeal would limit environmental damage.

The DEP is also a defendant in the March 26 lawsuit. Christman said Save Carbon sued them over a history of failing to protect Carbon County and the coal region in general.

“The day they put a tire burning plant in Lancaster County or Berks, a county that is not considered bankrupt, then I will think they are being fair. I don't think they're fair to coal country,” Christman said.

Ben Price has fought for the environment since 2003 with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF). He is also a resident of Carbon County, so the fight against Stronghold is close to his heart. He said community organizations have to fight against the DEP and the laws that regulate it.

Save Carbon member Brandon Fogal hopes residents take action before it's too late.

“The Coal Region needs to unite and protect itself because much of the Coal Region is very poor. For example, when the coal industry disappeared, people were disadvantaged, areas became desperate, and that's just a breeding ground for corporate overreach,” Fogal said.

Fogal is also a business owner. He is co-owner of Pocono Whitewater, Skirmish USA and Pocono Biking. He worries that Stronghold will pollute the Lehigh River, which is listed as one of the most endangered rivers in the country, according to a waterways advocacy group. American rivers.

“Honestly, our business depends on it. If the Lehigh River had a bad reputation for that kind of thing, it would be extremely detrimental to us,” Fogal said. “The leisure industry in this area is no joke. It is one of the area's largest employers, contributing billions of dollars to the area. “It is really important for local well-being, so sacrificing it for a Bitcoin mining operation makes no sense.”

Save Carbon County and its attorneys are working to obtain documents detailing any pollution created by Stronghold and its subsidiaries, where Stronghold deposits ash created by its power plants, and revenue information, according to Linda Christman.

The fundraiser raised almost $2,000. Christman said the goal was half that amount. She estimates that appealing Stronghold and Panther Creek's pending TDF permit will cost $4,000. Save Carbon County plans to hold future fundraising events.

Stronghold CEO Greg Beard, formerly responded to the demand and defended his company's use of environmental tax credits. He said Stronghold remains “meeting some of the highest standards within the industry” at the Panther Creek facility.