SOLAR+STORAGE
Aspen Creek Digital Corporation | June 23, 2022
Aspen Creek Digital Corporation ("ACDC") announced that its first bitcoin mining center, a 6MW High Performance Computing Center ("HPCC") co-located behind-the-meter with a 10MW solar farm, commenced operations in west Colorado. The project is home to ACDC's self-mining operations. ACDC has also added Galaxy Digital's mining business ("Galaxy Digital") as a bitcoin mining hosting client. For ACDC, the launch of the Colorado facility marks a first step toward standing up 3+ GWs of wind, solar and battery generation by early 2025 across the U.S.
Launched in 2022, ACDC's mission is to catalyze the decarbonization of power generation by creating the world's leading fleet of renewably powered HPCCs. These HPCCs will initially focus on bitcoin mining. Eventually, ACDC will pursue offering sustainable massive computing as a service in the form of low-cost, long-term power purchase agreements with in-house renewable power development partners paired with an innovative business model for designing, co-locating and operating HPCCs "behind-the-meter."
ACDC operates the Colorado data center for self-mining with wholly owned S19 generation miners. Co-located with this project is a 75,000 square foot R&D and fulfillment facility which will serve as a centralized testing, maintenance, storage, and training hub for ACDC's future HPCC infrastructure.
In addition to the operational site, ACDC's current under development bitcoin mining sites are located across Texas. ACDC's second facility, which is on track to be operational this summer, is a 30MW data center capable of hosting 10,000 ASIC miners co-located behind-the-meter with an 87MW solar farm. ACDC's third project is a 150MW data center co-located behind-the-meter with a 200MW solar farm. These projects represent significant additional generation resources for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), as well as valuable controllable load resources that expand the reach of renewables by stabilizing the grid. ACDC has procured all the necessary long lead-time equipment, including transformers and switching equipment. Permitting and interconnections for both projects are on track for project launch.
"Recent market volatility has demonstrated the importance of our core strategy: controlling power as the principal input in bitcoin mining. ACDC was founded with a simple premise in mind, which is to create a sustainable source of renewable energy to power our operations and put renewables back on the grid. This design enables ACDC to withstand volatility in the bitcoin market and insulate our operations from power market fluctuations. The success of our first project is proof of our concept to substantially lower the cost of energy, the single largest input for bitcoin mining, and to do it sustainably, Our talented team and partners, who bring financial integrity and proven renewable energy expertise, will dramatically improve the sustainability of the industry while building strong partnerships with local communities, delivering carbon transparency, and enhancing grid resiliency."
-Alexandra DaCosta, CEO of Aspen Creek Digital Corporation.
About Aspen Creek Digital Corporation
Aspen Creek Digital Corporation is catalyzing the decarbonization of power generation by creating the world's leading renewable Bitcoin mining operator. The ACDC team pairs financial ingenuity with proven renewable energy expertise to deliver carbon transparency, lower power price volatility and bring new, additional renewable energy resources to the market.
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SOLAR+STORAGE
Natural Fibers Alliance | June 17, 2022
Effective immediately, the Natural Fibers Alliance (NFA) is calling for an immediate suspension of the use of the HIGG Index considering the recent New York Times article "How Fashion Giants Recast Plastic as Good for the Plant." Developed in 2012, the HIGG Index was created to help brands, retailers and manufacturers assess the sustainability of materials for use in footwear, garments, and other consumer products. Since that time many within the natural fibers community (leather, wool, fur, silk etc.) and fashion activists have voiced concerns over the index's questionable support of harmful synthetic materials made from fossil fuels that run counter to long term environmental sustainability goals.
"It's simple, natural biodegradable fibers to include leather, wool, fur, silk, etc. are more sustainable and better for our planet than plastic clothing. The culture of fast fashion is as much consumer driven as it is a direct result of corporate greenwashing. The only way to lower environmental costs and impact is to buy clothing that lasts, repurpose older pieces and support a culture of slow fashion based on high quality long-lasting materials," says Mike Brown, head of sustainability and public affairs for the Natural Fibers Alliance.
According to the Changing Markets Foundation (CMF), 'Fossil Fashion: The Hidden Reliance on Fossil Fuels', the use of such synthetic materials derived from crude oil and gas has doubled in clothing, creating both a reliance on the material and a boom in the cheap, fast fashion industry. This boom has had a direct environmental impact that will lead to an eventual ecological disaster. The CMF estimates the use of synthetic fibers will increase from 69% to 73% market share within the next 10 years.
The NFA feels that legislation and effective regulation are the only clear path forward. Sustainable natural fiber derived products should be the norm, not the exception and the only way to achieve that is to level the playing field, placing responsibility on companies through their compliance with regulation, allowing customers to make informed choices rather than having that decision manipulated by data or overreaching animal rights activists.
About Natural Fibers Alliance
The Natural Fibers Alliance is a coalition of producers and associations in both the US and Canada that support the use of natural sustainable materials in clothing, accessories, and other goods.
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SOLAR+STORAGE
PanXchange | June 17, 2022
PanXchange, the industry market structure solution and benchmark price provider for US hemp, and the Washington DC-based National Industrial Hemp Council of America announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will support the growth of financial incentives for carbon sequestration for the US industrial hemp market.
"NIHC is a leading and unifying voice for the industry, particularly in regulatory issues for industrial hemp, Partnering with a strong hemp membership and advocacy organization like NIHC will help grow industrial hemp markets and related climate-smart agricultural practices across the supply chain,"
-Julie Lerner, founder, and CEO of PanXchange.
The two companies said the partnership would allow hemp farmers to take advantage of PanXchange's deep knowledge of commodity trading and the potential impact of implementing climate-smart practices specifically for hemp growing and processing.
PanXchange is rolling out a transparent carbon program that provides farmers a viable path toward financial rewards for implementing regenerative agricultural practices. Moreover, Lerner explains that the PanXchange program gives farmers full ownership of the carbon credits earned and full agency to market the credits directly to buyers through its online trade platform.
The company already has 31,000 acres of croplands committed to the program for the 2023 crop year.
Other aspects of the MOU include:
PanXchange's carbon program will be the preferred vendor for NIHC's membership of hemp producers under the new agreement.
NIHC will partner with PanXchange to craft joint educational programming on carbon credits and regenerative agriculture.
PanXchange will serve as the NIHC preferred vendor for research projects involving climate-smart commodity markets and climate-smart practices specifically related to hemp growing and processing.
"Carbon sequestration and the voluntary carbon market are part of hemp's renaissance and will be an important part of North American agriculture. This partnership will be a value-add for American farmers who choose to grow hemp. Producers and the companies using these raw goods will also benefit alongside American consumers who will ultimately fulfill the promise of hemp's potential to power our climate-smart economy,"
- Patrick Atagi, President and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council of America.
About PanXchange
PanXchange specializes in creating ESG-focused physical commodity trading markets and benchmark pricing for better risk management. The firm is launching a vertically integrated and inclusive agricultural carbon program relying on its strong foundation in regenerative agriculture to generate carbon credits for sale on its platform. In doing so, PanXchange has developed buyer-approved and farmer-friendly carbon project methodologies for croplands and grasslands to lower the cost of entry for the average farmer. PanXchange is the leading benchmark price provider in the US hemp industry and the only institutional-grade trading platform for physical transactions.
About National Industrial Hemp Council
The National Industrial Hemp Council of America provides high-quality networking and resources for its members, from farm to consumer. Its leadership is composed of leading international, federal, state, private industry, and government professionals throughout the sector. The organization is dedicated to furthering market development, assisting members in entering the industry, and educating consumers on industrial hemp and its applications. Learn more about the NIHC at the 2022 Business, Research and Farm Summit happening August 22-23 in Corvallis, Oregon, at the Oregon State Global Hemp Innovation Center.
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