The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has cancelled the 6.2 GW Esmeralda 7 solar project in Nevada (United States). The project, which was set to become the largest of its kind within the US would have produced enough energy to power nearly 2 million homes. The solar complex comprised of seven projects developed by NextEra Energy Resources, Leeward Renewable Energy, Arevia Power and Invenergy, namely Lone Mountain Solar (1 GW solar + 500 MW BESS), Nivloc Solar (500 MW solar + BESS), Smoky Valley Solar (1 GW solar + BESS), Red Ridge 1 Solar, Red Ridge 2 Solar (each 600 MW solar + BESS), Esmeralda Energy Center (1 GW solar + BESS), and Gold Dust Solar (1.5 GW solar + 1 GW BESS). Developers may now submit individual project proposals to the BLM.
The US administration has taken a number of measures against renewable energy, including stricter requirements to solar and wind projects that apply for federal tax credits, the elimination of “preferential treatment” for solar and wind projects, and their submission to final review by the US DOI if they are to be developed on federally owned land.