The Dixie Valley toad, a recently discovered species in Nevada, faces a potential fight for its survival. The toad relies on the heat of underground hot springs—the very same geothermal source that renewable energy developers see as a weapon against climate change.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2021 in part to help the US reach its climate goals, includes a major investment in building new renewable energy projects, such as geothermal plants. However, many of these projects face lengthy delays due to environmental reviews mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.
NEPA, a 54-year-old law that has historically been used to block fossil fuel projects, now stands in the way of clean energy development. In Nevada, a contested geothermal plant exemplifies this clash between environmental protection and the urgency of addressing climate change. Conservationists fear the project will disrupt the ecosystem, potentially wiping out the Dixie Valley toad.
The future of the toad, and countless other environmental concerns, hangs in the balance. In this video, we look at NEPA and whether the law can be reformed to expedite clean energy projects without sacrificing crucial environmental checks. This tug-of-war may determine the fate of not just the Dixie Valley toad, but also the effectiveness of the law in the face of the pressing climate crisis.
Video Features:
- Robert Glicksman, George Washington University Law School
- Michelle Gordon, Biologist
- Scott Lake, Center for Biological Diversity
- Brenda Mallory, Council on Environmental Quality
- Daniel Moore, Bloomberg Law
- Paul Thomsen, Ormat Technologies
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