The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in California’s Mojave Desert is set to close in 2026 after failing to efficiently generate solar energy. Built at a cost of $2.2 billion, the plant was supported by $1.6 billion in federal loan guarantees from the Department of Energy under President Barack Obama. The plant was hailed as a model of American leadership in solar energy by then-Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. However, the facility has been criticized for not meeting its energy production goals and for its environmental impact.
According to the New York Post, the closure comes over a decade ahead of its planned 2039 end date, as Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) terminated its contracts with Ivanpah. PG&E cited cost savings for its customers as a reason for ending the agreements early. Energy experts have labeled the project a “boondoggle,” with Jason Isaac of the American Energy Institute stating that Ivanpah produced less electricity than expected and still relied on natural gas to stay operational.
Environmental concerns have also been raised. Julia Dowell from the Sierra Club noted that the plant’s construction harmed the desert habitat, affecting rare plant species and wildlife. She emphasized that while the Sierra Club supports clean energy, not all renewable technologies are equally effective.
The plant’s closure adds to a history of challenges faced by federally funded green energy projects, drawing comparisons to the Solyndra bankruptcy in 2011. As reported by the New York Post, critics argue that taxpayer-subsidized green projects often fail to deliver on their promises, with further failures anticipated from recent Democrat-backed legislation.
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