Sea Turtles Delay Debt-Ridden Puerto Rico's Gas-Switching Plan
- Island risks daily fines of $37,500 for failing air standards
- Puerto Rico's largest power generator could be forced to close
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Add hawksbill sea turtles and elkhorn coral to the list of things Puerto Rico has to worry about as it confronts its worst-ever financial crisis.
Endangered and threatened species are partly to blame for holding up construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal that the U.S. commonwealth needs to convert a plant with one-third of the island’s power-generating capacity to the cleaner-burning fuel from oil. Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla says the changeover will reduce electricity bills and boost the economy as the island seeks to trim its $70 billion debt load.