How a Rare Toad Species Stopped a Clean Energy Project (Podcast)

March 12, 2024, 8:19 PM UTC

In a remote part of Nevada, an energy company is trying to build a climate-friendly power plant—but the plant is being blocked by conservationists and a decades old environmental law.

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A geothermal plant built atop desert hot springs sits half-completed after the discovery of a new toad species in the area, and an environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. Conservation groups are suing, arguing the plant could drive the toad to extinction. But that seemingly puts them at odds with clean energy advocates in the fight against climate change.

Bloomberg Law’s Daniel Moore and Andrew Satter visited the site and join our podcast, On The Merits. They discuss the plant, the toad, NEPA, and why these “green-on-green” fights could become common as renewable energy projects expand.

Do you have feedback on this episode of On The Merits? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.


To contact the reporter on this story: David Schultz in Washington at dschultz@bloomberglaw.com

To contact the editor and executive producer responsible for this story: Josh Block at jblock@bloombergindustry.com

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