Interior denies canceling largest solar project in U.S. after axing review
Key Takeaways
- The Department of the Interior canceled the broad environmental review for the 6.2-GW Esmeralda 7 solar project in Nevada.
- The seven component projects of Esmeralda 7 will now be reviewed and permitted individually by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
- The BLM clarified that canceling the review does not mean the overall Esmeralda 7 project has been canceled.
- Critics, including the Environmental Defense Fund, condemned the decision, linking it to perceived preferential treatment for fossil fuels over renewables.
- The timeline for securing approvals for the individual projects is now unclear, replacing the previous estimated 5-year buildout window.
The U.S. Department of the Interior has decided to cancel the broad environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the seven individual projects comprising the 6.2-GW Esmeralda 7 solar project in Nevada, which is slated to be the largest solar facility in the country. Instead of a single programmatic analysis, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will now review and permit each of the seven projects—including Lone Mountain Solar and Smoky Valley Solar—individually. A BLM spokesperson stated this change was agreed upon with proponents to 'more effectively analyze potential impacts.' Developers involved include Invenergy, Avantus, and NextEra, who remain committed to the development process. Environmental groups, such as the Environmental Defense Fund, criticized the move, suggesting it reflects a negative trend in how the Trump administration handles renewable energy permitting compared to fossil fuels. Since the previous NEPA review timeline is void, the duration required for each project to secure necessary approvals is now uncertain, potentially delaying the full buildout.
