Conversation

Jesse Powell
@jespow
Five Whys: Bitcoin energy consumption is bad because - consumption encourages production - production outputs carbon - carbon output isn't cost prohibitive - carbon taxes are low - incompetent governments And who does Bitcoin threaten? Incompetent gov and the banks who own them.
10
12
116
Jesse Powell
@jespow
The real problem people have isn't with consumers of energy. The problem is that some forms of electricity production put carbon in to the atmosphere. If we don't like that, we should make that form of energy production cost prohibitive by taxing it, requiring offsets.
3
10
Jesse Powell
@jespow
I think it's better to put this kind of thing on the producers of carbon rather than all consumers of electricity. If you're going to put it on consumers, where do you draw the line? Consumers generally don't know the provenance of their electricity. Tax it at the source.
2
4
John W. |🇮🇪🇺🇸🇪🇸🇪🇺|
@_JohnWhelan
Agree 100%. Dig it up, burn it and pump it into the air has been the mantra of the energy business since the very beginning of the industrial revolution. And our political leaders have been bought. But big consumers of electricity have a voice too. They should use it more.
1
3
John W. |🇮🇪🇺🇸🇪🇸🇪🇺|
@_JohnWhelan
Replying to
@jespow
and
@jalangberg
Big consumers (i.e. businesses, factories, etc.) already put pressure on electricity producers about how that energy is produced through public policy and sustainability programs. There is nothing to stop the mining industry doing the same publicly. It all helps. Tax too.
1
3
John W. |🇮🇪🇺🇸🇪🇸🇪🇺|
@_JohnWhelan
In fact, that would be good PR as a baseline. Shift the blame to producers rather than consumers. The "Clean-Energy Mining Coalition". Probably a good idea anyway.
2
3
Show replies
J. Anders Langberg (anders.tez)
@jalangberg
Replying to
@jespow
and
@_JohnWhelan
I disagree. As consumers we can, and many do, buy eco-certified meat, fruit, power, etc. This puts as at an economic disadvantage towards those who don’t, but we do it anyway. Not everyone maximize for profit, and many companies are directed to produce an environmental policy.