Small Nevada Toad Listed as Endangered Due to Power Project
2022-12-12
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1A power center that will create electricity by pumping hot water from the earth sounds like a good idea.
2The company that hopes to build the power center in a part of western Nevada says it will create electricity without creating very much pollution.
3But the U.S. government's Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says the project will greatly change the area where a very small toad lives.
4A toad is a small animal that looks like a frog but has dry skin and lives on land.
5The Dixie Valley toad lives in a small area about 160 kilometers from Reno, Nevada.
6It is the only place it is known to exist on Earth.
7Because of the power center plans, the FWS in April temporarily moved the toad from its "threatened" list to its "endangered list."
8Animals on the endangered list are at a much higher risk of going extinct, or no longer existing.
9Last week, the FWS finalized that temporary move.
10It officially declared the Dixie Valley toad an endangered species.
11In its final ruling, the FWS said it was concerned that the power center will take the hot water from the ground before it can reach the surface naturally.
12The place where hot water comes up through the ground is a hot spring.
13The toads can only live on land that stays warm and wet because of the water from the ground.
14FWS experts do not believe the toad will be able to adapt, or get used to, to the new environment.
15"These conditions could result in the species no longer persisting," or living, the FWS wrote.
16The FWS also noted that the power project will change the conditions too quickly to give the toad a chance to adapt.
17An environmental advocacy group called the Center for Biological Diversity said it was pleased with the FWS decision to protect the toad.
18Patrick Donnelly is the group's director for the area that includes Nevada.
19He called the decision an "essential step to prevent the extinction" of a special animal.
20Donnelly agreed that clean energy is important in fighting the climate crisis.
21"But," he said, "it can't come at the cost of extinction."
22The power company behind the project is called Ormat Technology.
23Its original plan called for building two power plants that would produce 60 megawatts of electricity.
24Environmental activists took legal action to block the building of the power plant late last year.
25A Reno judge is still considering the case.
26In October, Ormat asked the judge to put the case on hold while it developed a new plan to build just one plant that would produce only 12 megawatts of power.
27Ormat's Vice President is Paul Thomsen.
28He said the company's plan to create the power center will "support the fight against climate change" and is in line with U.S. President Joe Biden's plans to create clean energy.
29Thomsen said the FWS ruling was not surprising, considering the emergency move to protect the toad last April.
30He also said the ruling does not change what Ormat is already doing to reduce and avoid possible harmful effects on the toad.
31I'm Dan Friedell.
1A power center that will create electricity by pumping hot water from the earth sounds like a good idea. The company that hopes to build the power center in a part of western Nevada says it will create electricity without creating very much pollution. 2But the U.S. government's Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says the project will greatly change the area where a very small toad lives. A toad is a small animal that looks like a frog but has dry skin and lives on land. 3The Dixie Valley toad lives in a small area about 160 kilometers from Reno, Nevada. It is the only place it is known to exist on Earth. 4Because of the power center plans, the FWS in April temporarily moved the toad from its "threatened" list to its "endangered list." Animals on the endangered list are at a much higher risk of going extinct, or no longer existing. 5Last week, the FWS finalized that temporary move. It officially declared the Dixie Valley toad an endangered species. 6In its final ruling, the FWS said it was concerned that the power center will take the hot water from the ground before it can reach the surface naturally. The place where hot water comes up through the ground is a hot spring. The toads can only live on land that stays warm and wet because of the water from the ground. 7FWS experts do not believe the toad will be able to adapt, or get used to, to the new environment. "These conditions could result in the species no longer persisting," or living, the FWS wrote. 8The FWS also noted that the power project will change the conditions too quickly to give the toad a chance to adapt. 9An environmental advocacy group called the Center for Biological Diversity said it was pleased with the FWS decision to protect the toad. 10Patrick Donnelly is the group's director for the area that includes Nevada. He called the decision an "essential step to prevent the extinction" of a special animal. 11Donnelly agreed that clean energy is important in fighting the climate crisis. "But," he said, "it can't come at the cost of extinction." 12The power company behind the project is called Ormat Technology. Its original plan called for building two power plants that would produce 60 megawatts of electricity. 13Environmental activists took legal action to block the building of the power plant late last year. A Reno judge is still considering the case. 14In October, Ormat asked the judge to put the case on hold while it developed a new plan to build just one plant that would produce only 12 megawatts of power. 15Ormat's Vice President is Paul Thomsen. He said the company's plan to create the power center will "support the fight against climate change" and is in line with U.S. President Joe Biden's plans to create clean energy. 16Thomsen said the FWS ruling was not surprising, considering the emergency move to protect the toad last April. He also said the ruling does not change what Ormat is already doing to reduce and avoid possible harmful effects on the toad. 17I'm Dan Friedell. 18Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 19__________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21pump -v. to force air or liquid out of something 22persist -v. to continue to happen or exist 23species -n. a group of animals or plants that are similar 24advocacy -n. the act of supporting or asking for something 25essential -adj. important or very basic 26__________________________________________________________________ 27We want to hear from you. Do you think the toad and the power plant can coexist? 28We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 29Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.