Research reveals that Bitcoin mining could make US more energy independent

Republican Congressman Pete Sessions has come out with a unique claim that the impact of Bitcoin mining can have a positive impact not only on Texas but also on the entire United States.

The renowned Bitcoin proponent and Texan representative, took the boldness to Twitter on March 22 stating that Bitcoin mining would play a “critical role in rebuilding energy independence in the USA.”

#Bitcoin Mining will play a critical role in rebuilding energy independence in the USA

— Pete Sessions (@PeteSessions) March 21, 2022

Both the critics and the supporters jumped into the comment box and drew mixed reactions to the statement. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, a Republican, was one of the supporters who replied to his tweet with a simple “Indeed.”

Both senators have been outspoken in their support for programs that promote innovation in the crypto industry as a whole, not just among miners. As gas prices in the United States rise owing to global conflicts, the discussion over how the country might decrease its reliance on foreign energy supplies has heated up.

Sessions’ point of view is supported by a wealth of evidence that implies Bitcoin mining sector developments could have global implications for industrial energy consumption and production.

As Texas has grown to provide over 14% of the country’s overall Bitcoin hash rate, the state’s electrical grid stability and miners’ environmental effect have come under intense scrutiny, as they have in other mining hotspots around the world. Notably, the U.S. accounts for more than 35% of the global Bitcoin hashrate distribution.

Despite these issues, a booming mining sector in Texas has been highlighted by several researchers as having the potential to reduce the state’s net environmental effect and energy demands on the public grid.

Flexible data centers could encourage renewable energy resources, according to a research paper published in March 2021. Depending on the status of the grid, a flexible data center produces its own energy from a tiny dedicated renewable power plant or takes power from the grid.

Texas contribution to Bitcoin mining

Texas is already the country’s biggest wind power generator, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). As a result, when renewable energy is needed, miners may already have it. Last year U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said that Texas should use wasted natural gas for Bitcoin mining activities, as TheCoinRise reported. Promoting the use of a flexible data center concept by miners could lead to increased renewable energy accessibility and reliability. 

“Hence, the (integrated energy system) may contribute to grid stability by locally using generated electricity instead of feeding it into the grid,” according to the paper.

Following the major crackdown by China, several countries have come forward to adopt crypto including mining. In February, Bitcoin mining difficulty peaked at a new all-time high of 27.97 T.