All articles tagged with #federal land
The Trump administration quietly canceled the Esmerelda 7 solar project in Nevada, which was set to generate 6.2 GW of power, citing routine changes in approach. The project faced controversy over environmental concerns and was initially supported under Biden, but its cancellation has sparked bipartisan criticism and concerns about the future of renewable energy development in the US.
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a significant expansion of coal leasing on federal lands, opening 13.1 million acres, reducing royalty rates, and streamlining project approvals to bolster domestic energy production, job creation, and national security, aligning with the Trump administration's energy strategy.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that the Trump administration may declare a national housing emergency in the fall to address housing affordability issues, potentially involving standardizing local building codes and reducing closing costs, as part of efforts to bolster the Republican midterm campaign platform.
Opposition in Wyoming and beyond is growing against a Republican plan to sell millions of acres of federal public land, with critics arguing it threatens outdoor culture, benefits wealthy entities, and bypasses environmental protections, while supporters claim it will address housing and debt issues.
Ten years after an armed standoff between supporters of cattle rancher Cliven Bundy and federal agents, Bundy's cattle continue to graze on federal land in Nevada despite court orders. The standoff, which involved hundreds of armed protesters, resulted in the Bureau of Land Management abandoning efforts to remove Bundy's cattle from the rangeland. Despite federal prosecutions, no family members were convicted of a crime in the dispute over grazing permits and fees.
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a legal effort by tribes and environmental advocates to block the construction of the largest lithium mine in North America on federal land in Nevada. Despite objections from tribes and environmentalists, the Biden administration did not reverse the decision made during the Trump administration. The court ruled that federal land managers did not violate environmental laws when approving the Thacker Pass mine, which is expected to begin full construction this summer.