20220822Comment(1)_1.pdf

From:PUCWeb Notification
To:Jan Noriyuki
Subject:Notice: A comment was submitted to PUCWeb
Date:Saturday, August 20, 2022 7:00:14 AM
The following comments were submitted via PUCWeb:
Name: Dennis Porter
Submission Time: Aug 19 2022 5:32PMEmail: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]Address: 1102 Van Buren Ave
Oxford, ms 38655
Name of Utility Company: Idaho Power
Case ID: IPC-E-21-37
Comment: "Dear Commissioners, We at Satoshi Action Fund, a non-partisan advocacy organization, have reviewed case number 35488 and have determined that the state of Idaho
and its Public Utility Commission are on the verge of setting a new precedent that would enable the commission to discriminate against the legal, end-use of electricity by BitGeomine.
Bitcoin and Proof-of-Work miners are a data center business just like Amazon or Google. In the case of GeoBitmine they are also providing valuable, recycled heat for greenhouses to grow
crops in the state of Idaho. Forcing GeoBitmine to adhere to the newly created ‘Schedule 20’ would effectively kill their pending business operations and would act as a form of
discrimination against their ability to access power at a fair and equitable rate as was set forth by the Public Service Commission in ‘Schedule 19’ for which BitGeomine fell under
previously to the creation of ‘Schedule 20’. Forcing BitGeomine to accept the new rate schedule would significantly hurt their profitability as a business and may even result in their
inability to operate. This action would result in lost investment, lost jobs, and lost tax revenue for the state of Idaho. In order for BitGeomine to effectively produce heat for the purposes of
growing crops and performing seed research in greenhouses with its partners, it needs access to power year round. Moving BitGeomine to ‘Schedule 20’ would have significant negative
impacts on this ability due to the new rate forcing BitGeomine to participate in programs that would include the possibility of having power cut off up to 225 hours a year. ‘Schedule 20’
also requires that its participants be able to relocate quickly. In the case of BitGeomine, this would not be possible due to their relationships and partnerships which include a University of
Idaho seed research initiative. Although we appreciate that the State of Idaho must responsibly manage its electrical infrastructure in order to insure grid stability and affordable rates for its
residents, we believe that the move to push BitGeominer towards Schedule 20 directly targets an individual business and is a clear form of discrimination. Please also take into account the
potential negative future impacts of this decision for the state of Idaho. Bitcoin miners have the potential to bring high paying jobs, infrastructure investment, grid stability, enhance
renewables, and clean up the environment. The practice of discriminating against Bitcoin mining could have long term impacts on the ability to attract this nascent tech infrastructure to
the state of Idaho. For Your Consideration, Dennis Porter CEO & Co-Founder Satoshi Action Fund "