There are energy and environmental concerns involved with mining bitcoins but any organisation and governments that hides behind those reason alone as their major reason for not allowing bitcoin are merely being hypocritical. I have always said that prior to bitcoins we have always had environmental concerns and then rather than criticizing the environmental friendliness and mining cost of bitcoin they can seek to profer proper solutions to address these issues or if they are without idea seek to adopt ideas like what OP has suggested and make it work.