The developer of a geothermal power plant facing legal challenges in Nevada agreed Monday to suspend construction just hours after a U.S. appeals court had refused to halt the project that opponents say would harm an endangered toad and destroy sacred hot springs
That sounds like a lot of land--and that's because it is. In fact, it's 12 percent of all privately held land in Nevada; It was sold last week to a Florida-based company that wants to increase mining and geothermal energy plants on its massive land holdings.
The recent bankruptcy of the government-backed solar company, Solyndra, drew fire from Congress and put funding for other solar projects on shaky ground. Now, a geothermal plant in northern Nevada might follow suit. Nevada Geothermal Power is fighting off debt, and its own auditor said there was "significant doubt" on whether the company would continue. Will Nevada Geothermal go the way of Solyndra? And what does that mean for future energy projects here in Nevada? New York Times reporter Eric Lipton gives us an update.
