The Watch
LATITUDE
THE NOT-SO-VISIBLE COSTS OF NOT-SO-VISIBLE CURRENCIES Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are certainly more abstract than the bills, coins, and other things you can wrap your hands around. But research shows that they have very tangible impacts on the world around us. The process of digital currency more energy—and produced more carbon emissions—than many types of traditional mining. Canada’s biggest bitcoin mining
industry to town with affordable power, because of the economic spinoff. However, some other municipalities, here and elsewhere, are raising the price of electricity charged to crypto-miners. Their fear? Higher demand will create a spike in rates for residential users. The industry itself notes that misconceptions about digital cur- rency persist. Mining helps keep bil- lions of dollars in transactions safe every day. Some articles say 80 per cent of bitcoin mining uses electric- ity from renewable resources. Work done in the sector is also helping prompt the innovation of more effi- cient ways to use energy, regardless of what it’s for, proponents say.
operation is in Medicine Hat, where 180 computer servers in 56 ship- ping containers use as much elec- tricity as the entire rest of the city of 60,000 people. Toronto-based Hut 8 began its operations in the Hat earlier this year, after building a $100-million facility on a 4.5-hect- are site next to a new natural-gas- fired power plant. City council for Medicine
mining has computers around the world solving mathematical puzzles, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The process adds security and vali- dation for digital currency transac- tions, which is critical to the industry. A recent study reported in the online journal Nature Sustainability found that the activity consumed
Hat, an APEGA permit holder, has been happy to attract the
SOCCER GOES BIG IN EDMONTON
Just how big is the new Edmonton Soccer Dome? Well, there’s enough space to park two 747s there— that’s 84 feet of height to cover an area of 135,000 square feet. The largest structure of its kind in Canada, the megadome was conceived and brought to life by the Edmonton Scottish Society. During the summer, the dome was shipped to Edmonton from Arizona in 10 pieces, then assembled on the society’s sprawling grounds in southwest Edmonton. The facility supports three nine-aside pitches, or one full-sized, international-standard, 11-aside pitch. That adds up to some serious supply relief for soccer in Edmonton. three different soccer game models—four seven-aside or
SOCCER—IT’S A BIG DEAL Supply relief for soccer moms, dads, and their kids is now available in Edmonton, thanks
to the Edmonton Scottish Society’s new dome. -photo courtesy Edmonton Scottish Society
At $7 million, the project wasn’t exactly inexpensive for the society, but grants of nearly $3 million from the city and province have helped offset costs. The society, which owns and operates the dome, plans to rent space not only to soccer
leagues, but also to other organized sports groups in need of indoor playing fields, like rugby or lacrosse. The Edmonton Journal quotes the dome’s general manager Antony Bent saying: “I’m just proud. Every time I drive past it, I smile.”
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