It could cost Kentucky taxpayers about $9 million a year in lost tax revenue - though bitcoin proponents say that will be outweighed by the broader economic benefits the industry brings, such as jobs and out-of-state investment. Last year senator Smith briefly became the co-owner of a bitcoin mining operation in the Appalachian town of Inez.
As U.S. coal country transitions away from fossil fuels, Bitcoin miners are descending on the U.S. Appalachian mountains. But what is the economic and environmental impact of crypto moving in?
Solar power could be on the minds of Kentucky lawmakers. The state legislature is being asked to consider changes to the development of solar farms. These include local government notification by solar farm firms, and end-of-life decommissioning plans.