Overview

• BLM’s NEPA webpage lists the 6.2‑GW Esmeralda 7 as canceled, while Interior says it ended only the programmatic review rather than the project itself.
• Interior says developers may submit seven standalone proposals for individual BLM analyses in place of the single, grouped environmental study.
• Developers involved include Invenergy, Avantus and NextEra, with NextEra saying it remains committed to working with BLM on the project.
• Individual environmental reviews typically extend timelines by months or years, creating uncertainty compared with a consolidated PEIS process.
• The move drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats over energy supply and clarity for renewables, as conservation groups warn of risks to desert tortoise habitat and Joshua trees.