Crypto Miner Abandons Gas-Powered Facility in Pennsylvania, Sparks Environmental Backlash

Diversified Energy has walked away from a natural gas-fueled cryptocurrency mining operation in Elk County, Pennsylvania, leaving unplugged wells in violation of state regulations. The Longhorn Pad A facility—dormant for nearly a decade before its 2022 revival—was repurposed to power mining rigs using onsite gas reserves.

This breach compounds existing scrutiny around the firm’s environmental track record. Despite a 2021 agreement to seal 14 wells, Diversified Energy neglected its cleanup obligations, reigniting concerns about the industry’s stewardship of aging energy infrastructure.

The incident amplifies growing political and regulatory pushback against crypto mining’s ecological footprint in the U.S., particularly around fossil fuel-dependent operations.