The Trump administration just formally terminated Nevada’s biggest planned solar power project. This ruling dealt a massive blow to renewable energy efforts. The project — named Esmeralda 7 — planned to produce a staggering 6.2 gigawatts of energy. This much capacity would be enough to power almost 2 million homes! The $8.4 billion project covers an equally mind-boggling 186-square miles stretch across southern Nevada. Yet, its footprint is nearly the same size as Las Vegas.
Esmeralda 7 was the product of a unique teamwork across multiple, competing companies. Major players were NextEra Energy Resources, Leeward Renewable Energy, Arevia Power and Invenergy. Contrary to the administration’s recent directive, these plans are now dead in the water. On his first day back in the White House, President Trump ordered a pause on new renewable energy authorizations for federally owned lands and waters.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his stance on renewable projects, stating, “We will not approve wind or farmer destroying Solar. The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!!” Unfortunately, this sentiment highlights a much worse trend — his administration’s energy policy as a whole.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) controls how federal land is used. They’ve formally withdrawn the permit for the Esmeralda 7 project. In a brief statement, the BLM proclaimed that the environmental review process for the project has been “terminated.” This decision comports with an executive order that Trump issued to stop renewable projects in their tracks. The order directed the Department of the Interior to redouble its efforts at siting wind and solar energy projects.
Kathleen Sgamma, the president of the Colorado-based oil industry trade group Western Energy Alliance, was appointed by Trump to head the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This appointment underscores the administration’s commitment to prioritizing traditional energy sectors. Instead, the executive order allows Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to decide whether to approve or deny renewable projects. He should decide whether these ideas should move forward.
Even with that apparent defeat for Esmeralda 7, speakers from companies invested in the project expressed optimism that a path forward will emerge. A spokesperson for NextEra Energy Resources stated, “We are in the early stage of development and remain committed to pursuing our project’s comprehensive environmental analysis by working closely with the Bureau of Land Management.”
In response, they came up with a different creative approach. Rather than a programmatic environmental review, applicants could propose specific projects for each round to minimize impacts and address equity gaps.