Dominica is a beautiful island in the Caribbean, famous for its rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes. In 2023, the island saw nearly 84,000 tourists, which is a 13% increase from the year before. This rise in visitors is thanks to new direct flights from the United States and more hotels opening up. After recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the government is now focusing on using its natural resources to provide clean energy for its 66,000 residents and the tourism industry.

To cut down on its use of diesel generators, Dominica is building a geothermal power plant in the southern part of the island. This plant will use hot water from underground, heated by volcanic rock, to create electricity. The 10-megawatt plant, located near the village of Laudat in the Roseau Valley, is expected to start working by the end of the year. The process involves bringing steam to the surface to power turbines, and then cooling the steam and putting it back underground to keep the cycle going. The energy minister, Dr. Vince Henderson, wants to stop using diesel for electricity by 2030 and believes this geothermal plant will also help lower electricity prices.

The geothermal project is a partnership between the Dominican government and Ormat Technologies, a renewable energy company from the US and Israel. The funding comes from various governments, including the US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand, along with loans from the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank. This project has needed a lot of money and a complicated exploration process, which included deep drilling to check the geothermal resources.

While the geothermal plant has many potential benefits, some local residents and environmentalists are worried about its impact. Environmentalist Atherton Martin is concerned about how the project might affect the plants and animals in the Roseau Valley. Some community members are also questioning the financial costs, as the Dominican government has invested about $15 million. Dr. Henderson understands the challenges but is hopeful about the long-term advantages of the project. This geothermal power plant could also inspire other Caribbean countries to explore renewable energy options, helping to create a cleaner and more affordable energy future for the region.

Original news source: Letting off steam: How Dominica's volcanoes will boost its green energy (BBC)

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out key vocabulary words or phrases from the article without speaking, while the other groups guess what they are. This will help reinforce vocabulary related to the article.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Present a series of statements based on the article, such as "Geothermal energy is a good solution for Dominica" or "Tourism is more important than environmental protection." Students will move to different corners of the room to indicate their agreement or disagreement with each statement. Afterward, facilitate a class discussion about the opinions expressed.
– NEWS REPORTER ROLE-PLAY
Instructions: In pairs, students will role-play as news reporters covering the geothermal power plant project in Dominica. One student will act as the reporter, while the other takes on the role of an expert (e.g., a government official or an environmentalist). They will conduct a brief interview and report back to the class.
– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Give students a few minutes to draw a scene or a concept from the article, such as the geothermal power plant, the rainforests, or the tourism increase. After they finish their sketches, they will present their drawings to the class and explain their significance related to the article.
– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Students will write down two true statements and one false statement related to the article's content. After they have created their statements, they will share them with the class, and classmates will guess which statement is the lie. This activity encourages critical thinking and engagement with the material.

Dominica is a beautiful island in the Caribbean, famous for its rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes. In 2023, the island saw nearly 84,000 tourists, which is a 13% increase from the year before. This rise in visitors is thanks to new ? flights from the United States and more hotels opening up. After recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane ? in 2017, the government is now foc? on using its natural resources to provide clean energy for its 66,000 residents and the tourism industry. To cut down on its use of diesel ?, Dominica is building a geothermal power ? in the southern part of the island. This plant will use hot water from underground, heated by volcanic rock, to create electricity. The 10-megawatt plant, located near the village of Laudat in the Roseau ?, is expected to start working by the end of the year. The process involves bringing ? to the surface to power ?, and then cooling the steam and putting it back underground to keep the cycle going. The energy minister, Dr. Vince Henderson, wants to stop using diesel for electricity by 2030 and believes this geothermal plant will also help lower electricity prices. The geothermal project is a partnership between the Dominican government and Ormat Technologies, a ? energy company from the US and Israel. The ? comes from various governments, including the US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand, along with loans from the World Bank and the Caribbean ? Bank. This project has needed a lot of money and a complicated exploration process, which included deep drilling to ? the geothermal resources. While the geothermal plant has many potential benefits, some local residents and environmentalists are worried about its impact. Environmentalist Atherton Martin is concerned about how the project might affect the plants and animals in the Roseau Valley. Some ? members are also questioning the financial costs, as the Dominican government has invested about $15 million. Dr. Henderson understands the ? but is hopeful about the long-term advantages of the project. This geothermal power plant could also inspire other Caribbean countries to explore renewable energy ?, helping to ? a cleaner and more affordable energy future for the region.

1. What is your opinion on using geothermal energy as a source of power?
2. How would you feel if your country decided to invest heavily in renewable energy projects?
3. Do you think tourism is important for a country’s economy? Why or why not?
4. What is a natural resource that you think is underutilized in your country?
5. How do you think climate change affects small island nations like Dominica?
6. Do you like visiting places that are known for their natural beauty, like rainforests and waterfalls? Why?
7. What is a challenge that you think small countries face when trying to develop clean energy?
8. How would you feel if your community was divided on an important project, like the geothermal plant in Dominica?
9. Do you think it’s important to balance economic development with environmental protection? Why?
10. What is a project in your country that you believe has had a positive impact on the environment?
11. How do you think local communities can be involved in decisions about energy projects?
12. Do you think the benefits of renewable energy projects outweigh the potential risks? Why or why not?
13. What is a type of energy you think should be prioritized for the future?
14. How would you feel if you had to change your lifestyle to help the environment?
15. Do you think other countries should follow Dominica’s example in renewable energy? Why?

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