Trump officials cancel major solar project in latest hit to renewable energy | Trump administration
The Trump administration has halted a massive solar power project in Nevada that would have been one of the largest in the world, signaling that the White House plans to take on not just wind power but all renewable energy.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Thursday changed the status of the Esmeralda 7 project to indicate that its environmental assessment has been “cancelled,” climate publication Heatmap first reported.
The super project in southern Nevada was to cover 185 square miles – an area close to the size of Las Vegas – and include seven solar projects proposed by different companies, including NextEra Energy Resources, Leeward Renewable Energy, Arevia Power and Invenergy. Together, the array of solar panels and batteries was expected to produce 6.2 gigawatts of energy, enough to power nearly 2 million homes.
Asked for comment, the Interior Department appeared to leave open the possibility that at least parts of the draft could be resubmitted for review. In an email, a spokesperson said, “During routine discussions leading up to the expiration of the credits, the developers and BLM agreed to change their approach for the Esmeralda 7 Solar Project in Nevada. Instead of pursuing environmental analysis at the programmatic level, applicants will now have the opportunity to submit individual project proposals to the BLM to more effectively analyze potential impacts.”
The developers’ joint proposals were authorized by Joe Biden. Even once Donald Trump returned to the White House this year, the process seemed to be moving forward when his BLM submitted a draft environmental impact statement. But the process has since stalled, with the BLM failing to issue a final environmental impact statement or record of decision for the project.
Contacted for comment, a NextEra Energy Resources spokesperson said, “We are in the early stages of development and remain committed to continuing the comprehensive environmental analysis of our project by working closely with the Bureau of Land Management. »
The Guardian has also contacted Leeward Renewable Energy, Arevia Power and Invenergy for comment.
In a first-day executive order, Trump ordered a pause on new renewable energy permits for federally owned lands and waters. Then, in February, he named Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Colorado-based oil industry trade group Western Energy Alliance, to head the BLM, which manages a quarter-billion acres of public lands concentrated in Western states.
In July, as part of an attempt to build support for his tax and spending bill, Trump issued another order aimed at stopping renewable energy projects, which called on the Interior Department to review its policies affecting wind and solar power, and gave Interior Secretary Doug Burgum final decision-making authority over whether to pursue such projects.
The following month, the president said his administration would not approve solar or wind energy projects. “We will not approve of wind power or farmers destroying solar power,” he posted on Truth Social. “The time for stupidity is over in the USA!!!”
