A controversial crypto mining and power plant in Yates County is about to finish installing wire screens meant to better protect the surrounding Seneca Lake days before a state deadline.

Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. is expected to complete installing cylindrical wedge wire screens at the facility to prevent fish mortality and offset impacts to Seneca Lake’s ecosystem by mid-next week. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) extended the company’s deadline this fall to Jan. 20.

“We are a bunch of locals who really do care about the lake — we’re not a bunch of computers as people might make us out to be,” Greenidge Generation President Dale Irwin said. “Plenty of my teammates live and enjoy the lake every summer, every winter. We’re really excited that after 80 years of this plant operating, we can put in the best technology available to help protect the lake.”

The facility sucks in more than130 million gallons of water from the lake each day and then expels water about 108 degrees Fahrenheit back into the body of water, which the DEC says kills fish, eggs and other aquatic life. 

The DEC initially allotted Greenidge five years to design, study and finish the project. Greenidge didn’t apply for the required Article 15 permit and a Water Quality Certificate from DEC until March 18, 2022. Public comments were accepted on the applications until Sept. 1 and DEC issued authorizations to complete the work Sept. 27.

“DEC subjects all applications for…