![Wash 1.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYf61YNdVG14YSzJq7bageRFzivoSkTaunTimRxJqX2rD/Wash%201.jpg) War is breaking out in Washington state. A very civilized war, based mostly around numbers...numbers of megawatt usage...and hydroelectric dams. Enter East Wenatchee, a city in the Columbia river valley-region of Washington State. Owing to an abundance of hydroelectric power thanks to the aforementioned river, megawatt-hour rates are very affordable in Columbia. Affordable enough to have been attracting miners almost since the beginning of the Bitcoin mining boom. ![Wash 3.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUYRiAa2vojDVqzTcDsZsT4csFoHCxHvhr9U2hhCNwSXM/Wash%203.png) *Obligatory price update chart. Another ugly night.* As reported by Politico, power devoted to commercial miners is already sucking up 30 megawatts a day, or as much as 13,000 homes. Politico further goes on to predict that by the end of 2018, this are in Washington could account for between 15% and 30% of all worldwide Bitcoin mining. Politico related an amusing anecdote where foreign (Asian) "businessman" on some sort of "tour" of the hydroelectric dam requested to speak with the "dam master" so they could arrange "buying some electricity." ![Wash 2.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfKjvTrF2kYqy2A1uxUpLdDXryjdy2Kcg9kSNTchT1auN/Wash%202.jpg) *Here you can see the distribution of rewarded BTC, per Bloomberg.* As I reported last week, power-related squabbles pertaining to Bitcoin mining are only increasing as of late. Shared power resources are a bit like a "take a penny, leave a penny" tray - and Bitcoin miners have found how to take most of them while not leaving any. Call it a loophole, or against the "spirit" of public utilities - but until something legal is changed, this is really no different than you deciding to power a pointless collection of electronic collectibles. The only real difference is that these "power seekers" are engaged in a profitable venture, as opposed to simply wasting their energy on hot tubs and outdoor track lighting. I'm sure that won't prevent the creation of new "regulations" to control these entrepreneurs. We wouldn't want anyone experiencing any upward financial mobility, now would we? [*Try SteemFollower today and get rewarded for every vote!*](https://steemfollower.com/?r=5490) [See my explanation of SteemFollower here.](https://steemit.com/steem/@lexiconical/steemfollower-the-upvote-and-follower-exchange-that-isn-t-vote-4-vote-but-is-quite-effective) [*Try SteemEngine and get rewarded for every follow or vote!*](https://steemengine.net/join?r=1983) ![PAL Logo.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRSmRyg4MdRdiKsWTMbfyiAG673K1yP65MoUTbCXGp9Xi/PAL%20Logo.gif) [Join us at the Minnow Support Project! (click me)](http://minnowsupportproject.org/) [We also have a Radio Station! (click me)](http://mspwaves.com/home/listen/) [...and a 10,000+ active user Discord Chat Server! (click me)](https://discordapp.com/channels/319885228464406528/331564766495506433) *[Almost 75% of Steemians do not vote for witnesses, who secure the Steem blockchain! If you wish to make me your witness voting proxy, I will attempt to vote in Steem's best interest based on the information in my witness reports. You may set me as your proxy by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the Witness Voting page. Proxies are instantly revokable at any time, and witness voting does not use your voting power.](https://steemit.com/~witnesses)* [![Proxy.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmV7EukwPiajCok1zWTGUTY4oiWy5zFGTYhLqHrBuJAcUf/Proxy.png)](https://steemit.com/~witnesses) [Join the Steemit Poker League! (@spl)](https://steemit.com/@spl)[World's Largest Cyptocurrency Freeroll Poker Site, open only to Steemians!](https://www.lucksacks.com/) *Sources: Google, CoinTelegraph, Politico, ZH* *Copyright: Politico, Live Bitcoin News, Bloomberg*