Cancellation Signals Wider Crackdown on Renewable Energy
The Trump administration has officially canceled a major solar power development in Nevada that was poised to become one of the largest in the world. On Thursday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) changed the status of the Esmeralda 7 project to “cancelled,” halting progress on what was to be a 6.2-gigawatt renewable energy complex. The decision indicates a broader White House effort to restrict not only wind energy but the solar sector as well.
The Esmeralda 7 project, located in southern Nevada, was set to span 185 square miles—nearly the size of Las Vegas—and combine seven separate solar developments proposed by companies including NextEra Energy Resources, Leeward Renewable Energy, Arevia Power, and Invenergy. Together, the network of solar farms and battery storage sites would have generated enough electricity to power almost two million homes.
BLM Cites Change in Approach Amid Project Suspension
In a statement to the press, the Department of the Interior said the decision came after “routine discussions” between federal officials and developers. According to the agency, the companies “will now have the option to submit individual project proposals to the BLM to more effectively analyze potential impacts,” suggesting that smaller portions of the project could still be reconsidered for approval.
NextEra Energy Resources, one of the companies involved, said it remains committed to the project’s environmental analysis and will continue working closely with federal regulators. Other developers involved in the proposal have not yet commented.
Policy Reversal Reflects Trump’s Anti-Renewable Stance
The Esmeralda 7 proposal had initially been approved under the Biden administration, which prioritized large-scale renewable projects on federal lands. After President Donald Trump returned to office, his administration continued to advance the environmental review for several months before abruptly halting it. The BLM has not issued a final environmental impact statement or a record of decision for the project, leaving it in limbo.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order pausing new renewable energy permits on federally owned lands and waters. In February, he appointed Kathleen Sgamma, a long-time oil industry advocate and president of the Western Energy Alliance, to lead the BLM. Since then, the agency has taken a harder line against wind and solar developments across the western U.S.
Industry Backlash and Broader Implications
In July, Trump issued an additional order directing the Department of the Interior to review policies affecting renewable energy and gave Interior Secretary Doug Burgum final approval power over new projects. One month later, Trump publicly declared his administration would “not approve wind or farmer destroying Solar,” framing the move as a defense of American land use and energy independence.
Environmental groups and renewable energy companies have criticized the cancellations as a major setback for clean energy expansion. Analysts warn that blocking large-scale solar developments like Esmeralda 7 could slow the nation’s progress toward meeting its climate and energy transition goals, further widening the gap between U.S. renewable development and that of other major economies.
