British Columbia moves to restrict crypto mining access to its hydro grid as part of new energy legislation aimed at prioritizing job-heavy industries and managing unprecedented electricity demand.
The provincial government said Monday it will permanently ban new BC Hydro connections for cryptocurrency mining and impose limits on power available to data centres and artificial intelligence projects, with the rules due to take effect in fall 2025.
Officials framed the changes as a measure to protect grid reliability and steer clean power toward sectors that deliver stronger local economic benefits.
The government said access to reliable, low-carbon electricity is critical for resource projects and emerging industrial investments, and that the new framework will help BC Hydro manage rapid demand growth.
“We’re seeing unprecedented demand from traditional and emerging industries. The Province’s strategy empowers BC Hydro to manage this growth responsibly, keeping our grid reliable and our energy future clean and affordable,” said Charlotte Mitha, president and CEO of BC Hydro.
BC Hydro supplies power to more than five million people, roughly 95% of the province, and has warned previously that a surge in grid connection requests, including for crypto mining, could strain availability and push up rates for residents.
The province first paused new mining connections in December 2022 while it developed permanent rules; the latest move converts that moratorium into long-term policy.
Crypto industry advocates argue mining can be compatible with clean-energy goals and point to efforts to use surplus renewables, but provincial officials said the scale of proposed mining projects and their limited local job creation made future growth unsustainable.
Observers say the law signals a broader shift in which governments prioritize AI, data centres and traditional resource projects for constrained clean power supplies.
The legislation also aims to accelerate transmission projects such as the North Coast Transmission Line to unlock new industrial opportunities while protecting household electricity needs, setting the stage for a competition over scarce clean power as demand soars urgently.