Pope Francis’ teaching in the encyclical Laudato Si’ calls us to advocate for policies that protect God’s creation. A new industry in our area is consuming enormous amounts of electricity generated from burning fossil fuels. It’s called “cryptocurrency mining” and it generates a computer-based money. The complicated mathematical calculations used to create cryptocurrency require thousands of computers running non-stop. The pollution produced by these computers’ energy use staggering. Just one cryptocurrency operation produces the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide as putting nearly 50,000 more cars on the road. Our Diocesan Public Policy Committee is encouraging us to speak up in support of a bill to create a moratorium on this kind of cryptocurrency mining until its environmental impacts can be better understood. Please call your NY State Assembly Member at 518-455-4100 and NY State Senator at 518-455-2800 to ask for their support of this moratorium on cryptocurrency mining.