Oh, now they care about careful environmental assessment? Oil and gas development is spreading over the American West like a cancer, but this, this solar stuff … it’s a bridge too far!

So Congress and the feds are going to let the solar investment tax credit lapse and institute a moratorium on deployment in the best solar states — two body blows to an nascent clean energy industry. That is some crackerjack energy policy.

Reader support helps sustain our work. Donate today to keep our climate news free. All donations DOUBLED!

(Incidentally, it strikes me that this could actually advantage eSolar over its competitors, since it can build smaller plants on marginal land.)

Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.