The British Columbia Court of Appeal has upheld the provincial government’s decision to limit electricity supply to Bitcoin mining operations, ruling against Conifex Timber’s attempt to secure unrestricted access to power.
According to Canada’s National Observer, Conifex, a forestry company that also operates hosting facilities for Bitcoin mining, sought to consume approximately 2.5 million megawatt hours of electricity annually—nearly half the output of the province’s new Site C dam. Conifex has been a Bitcoin mining colocation host for Greenidge Generation.
The court sided with BC Hydro, emphasizing its priority to act in the public interest by preserving the province’s electricity supply and preventing higher consumer rates.
British Columbia, along with other provinces like Manitoba and Quebec, has implemented policies to restrict electricity access to large-scale crypto mining operations. Bill 24, the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, was enacted to regulate the sector due to its significant energy demands.
Concerns over crypto mining’s impact on energy consumption have led several Canadian provinces to impose restrictions in the country.
According to the news report, Manitoba suspended new electricity connections for mining firms in 2022, while Hydro Quebec raised rates and capped electricity allocations.
New Brunswick has also issued a moratorium on large-scale electricity requests from crypto miners, and Ontario considered excluding them from an electricity cost-reduction program. The exception to this trend is Alberta, where a deregulated energy market and government support have made it a haven for crypto miners.
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