Ormat Nevada Sues Over Dixie Valley Toad's Endangered Status
Ormat Nevada, a geothermal company, has filed a lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service, challenging the endangered species status of the Dixie Valley toad. The company argues that the listing has harmed its investment in a renewable energy project.
The complaint, filed by Danielle Brian Mintz on March 28, 2023, alleges that the Fish and Wildlife Service hurried its assessment of the toad's status due to pressure from environmental activists. Ormat Nevada contends that the federal agency relied on flawed data and worst-case assumptions in its evaluation, leading to an inaccurate assessment of the toad's endangerment.
The Dixie Valley toad, a small amphibian native to Nevada, was listed as endangered in 2021 due to habitat loss and climate change. Ormat Nevada argues that the listing has hindered its geothermal project in the area, which could provide clean energy to the region.
Ormat Nevada's lawsuit seeks to remove the Dixie Valley toad's endangered species protections, claiming that the current listing process was flawed and biased. The company hopes to resume its geothermal project, while environmental activists and conservationists insist on protecting the vulnerable toad species.
