Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed a secretary’s order on Aug. 1 to permit projects that optimize energy generation while minimizing their environmental impact.
“Massive, unreliable energy projects, such as wind and solar, are inefficient uses of federal lands when compared to other energy sources with much smaller footprints, like nuclear, gas and coal,” the department said.
Interior will now consider proposed energy projects’ capacity density when evaluating the project’s potential energy benefits. “By considering energy generation optimization, the Department will be able to better manage our federal lands, minimize environmental impact, and maximize energy development to further President Donald Trump’s energy goals,” Burgum said.
