By Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | AZ Mirror
Proposed solar energy projects on federal lands in Arizona could be in danger due to a new Trump administration policy that could lead to the state losing billions of dollars in investments and thousands of jobs.
In July, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a memo stating that he must personally approve all solar and wind energy projects on federal land.
That news came after President Donald Trump signed into law a spending bill that eliminated a number of clean energy tax credits, leaving Arizonans and businesses a short window of time to utilize before they are gone.
An analysis by research firm Atlas Public Policy shows that three solar projects proposed on federal land in the state could be in jeopardy given the new directive from the Department of Interior. The total cost of the investments on those projects is estimated to be $1.6 billion.
Only Nevada has more projects that could be scrapped by the Trump administration’s new rule.
