Green groups charged that Kathy Hochul is punting the issue until after the primary.
The law leaves key decisions to an agency with a history of dragging its feet on implementing water quality legislation.
Founded by a major Cuomo donor, Renaissance Technologies is set to become a stakeholder in upstate mining operation that touched off backlash against Bitcoin.
A Finger Lakes power plant plans to ramp up energy-intensive Bitcoin mining. If the state allows it to proceed, environmentalists warn dozens of fossil-fueled plants could follow.