Senator Cynthia Lummis, also known as “Crypto Queen” of Congress, has recently released a report that argues against Biden’s mining tax. On July 23, she shared a report, noting the environmental and economic benefits of the bitcoin mining infrastructure to the United States’ energy grid. 

Lummis also criticized the government’s 30% excise tax on the energy consumed by the miners. She states:

“The Biden administration’s dangerous scheme to tax bitcoin miners is a blatant attack on innovation, energy abundance and American excellence.  ”

The pro-crypto senator uses data from the Bitcoin Energy and Emissions Sustainability Tracker to state that bitcoin mining is more environmentally friendly than commonly perceived. Notably, the tracker reveals that up to 52.6% of Bitcoin mining operations could be emissions-free.

Bitcoin Mining Beneficial for U.S.

Lummis highlighted the role of Bitcoin mining facilities in enhancing the stability and efficiency of the energy grid. These facilities, which represent large, flexible electrical loads, can be instrumental in balancing and redistributing energy during peak demand periods.

She points to the ongoing collaboration between the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Bitcoin miners as a prime example. In 2022, Bitcoin miners were able to sell 1,500 megawatts of energy back to the grid during times of peak demand. A similar pattern emerged in 2024 during winter storm Heather. 

A Discouraging Tax Policy

One of the key arguments in Lummis’ report is that the proposed 30% tax would harm the environment by discouraging Bitcoin miners from pursuing sustainable energy sources and energy recycling techniques. 

Lummis references the Laffer Curve, an economic theory suggesting that higher tax rates can lead to lower tax revenues by driving industries out of the country. She argues that imposing a 30% excise tax on Bitcoin miners would likely result in the industry relocating to more tax-friendly jurisdictions, ultimately reducing the tax revenues the government aims to collect. This has already happened in China, where a 2021 mining ban forced the once-dominant mining industry to move elsewhere.

Lummis Highlights Sustainable Practices

She highlights examples of sustainable practices in the bitcoin mining sector, including crypto-friendly El Salvador’s use of volcanic energy to mine 474 Bitcoin and the use of sequestered methane from trash dumps for Bitcoin mining and. Moreover, in Finland’s Satakunta region, excess heat from a Marathon Digital mining facility is used to warm an entire community of 11,000 people.

The report also touches on international efforts to develop renewable energy sectors through Bitcoin mining. Earlier this year, Marathon Digital signed an agreement with Kenya’s government to enhance the country’s renewable energy sector, which already provides up to 80% of Kenya’s energy needs.