Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. (GREE) Risk Factors

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", in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. We may incur significant additional costs beyond those currently contemplated to comply with these regulatory requirements. If we fail to comply with these and future regulatory requirements, we could be forced to reduce or discontinue operations or become subject to administrative, civil, or criminal liabilities and fines. In 2015, EPA finalized federal regulations (the "CCR Rule") that establish technical requirements for the disposal of CCR. The EPA recently published revisions to the CCR Rule, effective November 8, 2024 (the "revised CCR regulations"). The revised CCR regulations impose certain compliance and other obligations on certain previously unregulated CCR sites. The revised CCR regulations require, among other things, electric utilities and independent power producers to investigate and identify previously unregulated CCR sites and demonstrate that the sites were closed in accordance with the closure performance standards in the CCR Rule. The required investigation is conducted in phases, with the Phase 1 report due on February 9, 2026. Any required closure obligation would commence on May 8, 2029, unless exceptions apply that would defer the closure obligation to a permitting process. In accordance with the revised CCR regulations, phased evaluations of the Lockwood Hills and Greenidge Generation facilities will be conducted to determine if any previously unregulated CCR sites must be addressed under the new regulation. We make no assurances as to the status of any CCR sites at either facility that could be subject to regulation under the revised CCR regulations. Additionally, the EPA has recently finalized or proposed several regulatory actions establishing new requirements for control of certain air emissions from certain sources, including electricity generation facilities. In the future, the EPA may also propose and finalize additional regulatory actions that may adversely affect our existing generation facilities or our ability to cost-effectively develop new generation facilities. We can provide no assurance that the currently installed emissions control equipment at the natural gas-fueled generation facilities owned and operated by us will satisfy the requirements under any future EPA or state environmental regulations. Future federal and/or state regulatory actions could require us to install significant additional emissions control equipment, resulting in potentially material costs of compliance for our generation units, including capital expenditures, higher operating and fuel costs, and potential production curtailments. These costs could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Existing environmental regulations could be revised or reinterpreted, new laws and regulations could be adopted or become applicable to us or our facilities, and future changes in environmental laws and regulations could occur, including potential regulatory and enforcement developments related to air emissions, all of which could result in significant additional costs beyond those currently contemplated to comply with existing requirements. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We may not be able to obtain or maintain all required environmental regulatory approvals. For example, in June 2022, NYSDEC denied our application to renew a Title V Air Permit for the continued operation of our natural gas power generation facility in the Town of Torrey, New York. In July 2022, we appealed the denial and requested an administrative adjudicatory hearing with NYSDEC, however, in May 2024, our appeal to NYSDEC and request for an adjudicatory hearing were ultimately denied and the June 2022 non-renewal of our Title V Air Permit was affirmed by NYSDEC's Regional Director for Region 7. A hearing was held on October 29, 2024, in the New York State Supreme Court, Yates County, on our previously disclosed TRO Request allowing our New York Facility to continue operations pending a final, non-appealable outcome regarding our Article 78 challenge of NYSDEC's denial of our Title V Air Permit renewal application filed on August 15, 2024. In connection with such hearing, we and NYSDEC entered into a stipulation on the record to extend a stay of NYSDEC's shut down order from November 1, 2024 to November 14, 2024, at such time we expect the Court to render a decision on our TRO Request, or, alternatively, our Article 78 challenge of the denial of the permit renewal application in total. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful. If there is a delay in obtaining any required environmental regulatory approvals, if we fail to obtain, maintain, or comply with any such approval, or if an approval is retroactively disallowed or adversely modified, the operation of our generation facilities could be stopped, disrupted, curtailed, or modified or become subject to additional costs. Any such stoppage, disruption, curtailment, modification, or additional costs could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we may be responsible for any on-site liabilities associated with the environmental condition of facilities that we have acquired, leased, developed, or sold, regardless of when the liabilities arose and whether they are now known or unknown. In connection with certain acquisitions and sales of assets, we may obtain, or be required to provide, indemnification against certain environmental liabilities. Another party could, depending on the circumstances, assert an environmental claim against us or fail to meet its indemnification obligation to us. Such event could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.