Wyoming miners, utilities and committee push for interruptible tariffs as miners cite grid and rate barriers

Summary

Mining operators and university researchers told committee members that co‑op and transmission structures and FERC processes limit Wyoming miners’ ability to access flexible interruptible rates used elsewhere; the select committee voted to draft legislation requiring interruptible tariffs for certificated power providers.

Jackson — Mining operators and university researchers testified May 14 that Wyoming’s cooperative utilities and transmission arrangements are a key barrier to expanding Bitcoin mining investment and jobs in the state, and the committee voted to seek a statutory fix.

Joe Terranova, chief operating officer of 44 West Mining (Gillette), told the Senate Select Committee on Blockchain that miners in Powder River Basin face rising energy and equipment costs and an inability to secure the flexible, interruptible rate structures that have attracted investment in other states. “Bitcoin miners are uniquely positioned to positively contribute to grid balancing…given their ability to self‑regulate their deployed load with only a few minutes notice,” Terranova said, adding that the lack of suitable rate mechanics has forced reduced uptime and, he said, lower tax flows to local governments.

Terranova described operational facts: 44 West scaled from about 1 megawatt in September 2023 to 5 megawatts in early 2024; the company’s Wyoming site has capacity up to 20 megawatts but has curtailed expansion amid…

Wyoming miners, utilities and committee push for interruptible tariffs as miners cite grid and rate barriers

Summary

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