Added option to skip empty blocks (#1444)

* Added option to skip empty blocks

Signed-off-by: madelinemurray <madeline.murray@consensys.net>

* Apply suggestions from code review

Co-authored-by: Sally MacFarlane <macfarla.github@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Alexandra Tran Carrillo <12214231+alexandratran@users.noreply.github.com>

* Update docs/private-networks/how-to/configure/consensus/clique.md

Signed-off-by: Alexandra Tran Carrillo <12214231+alexandratran@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Signed-off-by: madelinemurray <madeline.murray@consensys.net>
Signed-off-by: Alexandra Tran Carrillo <12214231+alexandratran@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Alexandra Tran Carrillo <12214231+alexandratran@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Sally MacFarlane <macfarla.github@gmail.com>

docs/private-networks/how-to/configure/consensus/clique.md

@@ -56,8 +56,31 @@ The properties specific to Clique are:
 
 - `blockperiodseconds` - The block time, in seconds.
 - `epochlength` - The number of blocks after which to reset all votes.
+- `createemptyblocks` - Set to false to [skip creating empty blocks](#skip-empty-blocks).
 - `extraData` - [Extra data](#extra-data) including the initial signers.
 
+### Skip empty blocks
+
+By default, Clique creates empty blocks. For large private networks using Clique, skipping empty blocks can reduce the storage needed.
+
+To skip creating empty blocks, set `createemptyblocks` to `false` in the genesis file: 
+
+```bash
+{
+  "config": {
+    "londonBlock": 0,
+    "clique": {
+      "blockperiodseconds": 10,
+      "epochlength": 30000,
+      "createemptyblocks": false
+    }
+  },
+...
+}
+```
+
+All validators must have the same value for `createemptyblocks`. 
+
 ### Extra data
 
 The `extraData` property consists of:
@@ -152,7 +175,3 @@ However, when the out-of-turn delay is shorter than the block propagation delay,
 We recommend using a more updated consensus protocol such as [IBFT 2.0](ibft.md) or [QBFT](qbft.md).
 
 :::
-
-<!-- Acronyms and Definitions -->
-
-\*[vanity data]: Signers can include anything they like as vanity data.