According to Cointelegraph, cryptocurrency miner Diversified Energy has vacated a natural gas-powered mining site in Elk County, Pennsylvania, leaving behind unplugged wells and regulatory violations. The site, known as Longhorn Pad A, was reactivated in 2022 after nearly a decade of dormancy to power cryptocurrency mining computers. However, the operation commenced without an air quality permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Although the permit was granted in December 2023, a March 2025 inspection revealed that the mining infrastructure had already been removed. The DEP issued a formal violation notice for well abandonment, but Diversified denied abandoning the site, suggesting a potential resumption of gas production. Despite this, the DEP and environmental advocates argue that Diversified has not met its obligations. Under a 2021 agreement, the company committed to plugging Longhorn A and 13 other wells at the end of their operational life, a commitment reportedly unfulfilled.
Environmentalists have expressed concerns about Diversified's business model, which involves acquiring aging, low-producing wells and extracting remaining value without adequate decommissioning plans. Plugging a single well can exceed $100,000, and Pennsylvania already has over 350,000 orphaned and abandoned wells, raising significant concerns. A 2022 report criticized the company's approach as a "business model built to fail Appalachia," warning that taxpayers might bear the cost of unplugged wells. Diversified recently agreed to plug 3,000 wells by 2034 in a separate legal settlement but continues to face regulatory scrutiny, including a probe by the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Horton Township officials, where the Longhorn site is located, have received no updates from the company. Local supervisor PJ Piccirillo noted that generators and tanks were removed without notice, stating, "All we know is that the property seems to have been abandoned."
In a broader context, US cities are increasingly scrutinizing crypto mining operations. On April 25, the planning commission of Vilonia, Arkansas, unanimously rejected a proposal to establish a cryptocurrency mining facility within city limits, following strong resident opposition. In January, Arkansas lawmakers introduced a bill to ban crypto mining operations within 30 miles of any US military facility in the state. This opposition reflects a broader trend across various US municipalities where crypto-mining initiatives face increasing scrutiny. In October 2024, residents in Granbury, Texas, filed a lawsuit against Marathon Digital, alleging excessive noise from its mining facility.