According to Blockworks, Tom Emmer, Republican congressman from Minnesota and majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives, opposes a recently approved emergency request to collect data on Bitcoin mining in the United States. Last month, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)'s request for emergency cleanup, requiring a mandatory survey of the location and energy usage patterns of Bitcoin mining across the country. In a letter to OMB on Tuesday, Emmer wrote: "OMB's emergency approval authority is used when there is an imminent threat to public safety, and I write to express my deep concern about OMB's use of these powers in this case, because Bitcoin miners do not pose a threat to public safety." The EIA currently estimates that Bitcoin mining will account for 0.2% to 0.9% of global electricity demand by 2023. In the United States, the agency believes that Bitcoin mining "may account for 0.6% to 2.3% of consumption." "This additional electricity use has raised concerns among policymakers and grid planners about the impact on costs, reliability, and emissions," the EIA wrote earlier this month. The EIA has found 137 bitcoin mining facilities in 21 states, with the most facilities in Texas, Georgia, and New York. The mining companies contacted by the agency "are required to respond with detailed information related to their energy use." Emmer asked OMB to explain why the agency chose emergency authorization instead of "normal cleanup procedures." The congressman also wanted to know whether the agency would bring criminal charges against companies if they refuse to respond to requests for investigations. The EIA said earlier this month that it would begin collecting data immediately and expects to share initial results by the middle of this year.