[plebianRube]

Energy is not a pie. Producers overproduce energy in order to meet peak demand. Most grid mining uses off peak energy, since the utility would rather sell it cheaper than not have anyone buy it at all.

Off grid mining finds stranded energy which stops methane being flared directly into the atmosphere and converts most of it to CO2, which is factually better than any amount of CH4 being released.

By making stranded energy viable PoW actually allows green energy production to be built where existing demand cannot make it economically viable.