Old factories get new life in the age of digital mining

Industrial buildings that once made metal now find new purpose feeding computers instead. In upstate New York, a shuttered aluminum plant along the St. Lawrence River could soon hum with activity again, not for smelting aluminum, but for minting digital coins. The facility has stayed dark since 2014 when cheap overseas electricity and high local costs forced its closure. Now, a company focused on cryptocurrency wants to buy it, not for the metal it once produced, but for the massive power lines and substations still connected to the grid.Large industrial sites like this one are built to run nonstop, drawing steady streams of electricity through dedicated lines. When operations stop, the power infrastructure often stays intact. Bitcoin miners and data center builders can save years of paperwork and construction delays by stepping into plants that already have grid access. The site also benefits from nearby hydroelectric power supplied by a state authority, giving future tenants an option for cleaner, lower-cost energy. Experts say this shift shows how old power-hungry industries can adapt when technology changes. Instead of closing plants completely, owners may find buyers interested in repurposing the electricity supply. The deal is still being finalized, but if it closes mid-2024 as expected, it could mark one of the first times a major U. S. manufacturing site transforms into a digital mining hub.