Mega-solar farm project could impact threatened Japanese giant salamanders

JACK ALYMER: THESE CREATURES HAVE LIVED ON OUR PLANET FOR ABOUT 23 MILLION YEARS-

BUT NOW THE JAPANESE GIANT SALAMANDER IS FACING EXTINCTION.

AND CONSERVATIONISTS SAY NEW SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ANIMAL’S NATURAL HABITAT AREN’T HELPING MATTERS.

PUTTING A SPECIES REVERED THROUGHOUT JAPAN AS A NATIONAL TREASURE AND CELEBRATED IN CULTURAL LEGENDS AT RISK.

A SMALL ISLAND IN NORTHERN JAPAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY AUTHORITIES AS AN IDEAL SPOT FOR A MEGA-SOLAR FARM.

WITH LOW-COST LAND, SURROUNDING METROPOLITAN AREAS TO ABSORB THE ENERGY CREATED, AND SUNLIGHT DURATIONS OF OVER 15 HOURS DURING SOME MONTHS-
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THE PLANNED SITE OVERLAPS WITH habitat of these VULNERABLE SALAMANDERS.

IT’S WHY BOTH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS OF THE AREA HAVE PROTESTED AGAINST BUILDING OUT A MASSIVE SOLAR FACILITY HERE.

DEVELOPERS SAY THEY’VE COMPLETED AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT TO MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL THREATS TO THE SPECIES-

HOWEVER, PEOPLE IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY REMAIN CONCERNED THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE GIANT SALAMANDERS.

FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS CAN IMPACT NEARBY WILDLIFE, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME – JACK AYLMER.