Texas Blockchain Council, Riot Platforms File Lawsuit Against U.S. Department of Energy Over 'Emergency' Survey

In a recent turn of events, the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC) and Riot Platforms, a leading Bitcoin mining company, have initiated legal action against the U.S. Department of Energy and several officials, including Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, alleges that the Department of Energy is unlawfully demanding sensitive information from TBC members, particularly Riot Platforms, without providing adequate notice.

The lawsuit centers around an emergency review and clearance request by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) directed at the OMB. The EIA seeks to gather proprietary information from Bitcoin mining companies, claiming that the recent bitcoin price surge and the potential for increased mining activity could lead to significant electricity demand.

The plaintiffs argue that the EIA's demands, which require a response by February 23, violate the Paperwork Reduction Act's standard clearance processes that typically mandate a 60-day notice period. The lawsuit characterizes the EIA's approach as "sloppy government process" and criticizes the potential collection of data as "invasive government data collection."

"This is a case about sloppy government process, contrived and self-inflicted urgency, and invasive government data collection," the filing asserts. The companies fear that without judicial intervention, they will suffer "immediate and irreparable harm" due to the forced disclosure of confidential and proprietary information.

Lee Bratcher, President of the TBC, has voiced his concerns, stating, "The EIA's actions represent an alarming precedent of government intrusion into private industry operations without just cause or proper process."

As of today, the EIA has agreed to temporarily suspend their survey of miner energy use.

Sources:

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/miners-vs-the-eia-hearing-in-waco-texas