DOI Halts Development of Largest Solar Project in the US
The US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has canceled an environmental impact review of Esmeralda 7, a proposed 6.2-GW solar + storage project in Esmeralda County, Nevada.
The project, which would have been composed of seven separate arrays, was sited on 62,300 acres of BLM land. According to the BLM's website, the project is listed as canceled under the National Environmental Policy Act status.
Solar Power World reached out to the BLM for comment, but was met with a voicemail stating that nobody is in the office due to federal government shutdowns.
Esmeralda 7 entered the BLM's purview in November 2023, and shortly after held periods for public comment and bureau project scoping. The BLM had planned to have a ruling on the project in April 2025.
No comment was available from the BLM due to federal government shutdowns.
Author's summary: US DOI cancels largest solar project review.