West
BLM's Western Solar Plan is 'fantasy world,' relies heavily on taxpayer dollars: GOP congressman
The Bureau of Land Management’s updated Western Solar Plan, which aims to restrict 31 million acres of land across 11 states for the development of solar fields, is an “absolutely ridiculous” proposal from the Biden-Harris administration that would cost taxpayers more for unreliable energy, a Republican congressman told Fox News Digital.
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., said the agency’s plan will lock up 572,479 acres of public land in Montana alone for solar development, creating a “multitude of problems” for wildlife, the environment and the livelihood of citizens in the Treasure State.
“BLM Secretary [Deb] Haaland and Director Tracy Stone-Manning are living in this fantasy world where they think that we are going to be done with coal-powered electricity and natural gas powered electricity,” Rosendale said. “We’re going to be utilizing those sources for decades, for decades, because they’re reliable, they’re affordable, they’re readily available. They don’t need to be subsidized by the American taxpayers. And that is where we need to be focused.”
Rosendale said he is concerned that the Western Solar Plan violates the Taylor Grazing Act, which regulates grazing on public lands, and will produce intermittent energy in places where it will still need to be transmitted hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of miles before it can be used.
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Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., said that Bureau of Land Management Secretary Deb Haaland and Director Tracy Stone-Manning are living in a “fantasy world” if they think the U.S. will end coal-powered electricity and natural gas-powered electricity. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, File)
“It is not a consistent, reliable, affordable source of energy,” the congressman said of solar energy.
“You’re paying more for your energy that’s being produced from these sources and you’re being taxed heavier because of trying to subsidize it, make it work,” he said.
The Bureau of Land Management’s updated Western Solar Plan identifies 31 million acres for potential solar development in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. (Bureau of Land Management California)
BLM announced its updated solar plan in August, identifying 31 million acres for potential solar development in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. The agency said the updated plan will avoid protected lands, sensitive cultural resources and important wildlife habitats.
A BLM spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the proposed plan “supports national climate and energy goals while ensuring that public lands continue to serve many needs.”
“The proposed plan guides applications for solar development to areas that are already disturbed, are near transmission lines, or have lower environmental sensitivities,” the agency said. “It excludes solar development in certain sensitive ecosystems, wildlife habitats and culturally significant sites.”
The Bureau of Land Management said the updated plan will avoid protected lands, sensitive cultural resources and important wildlife habitats. (U.S. Department of Interior)
“Every day, the BLM balances uses on the landscape, from producing energy to grazing to mining to recreation to conserving wildlife habitat and clean water,” the agency continued.
BLM emphasized that the proposed plan doesn’t allow solar development in areas important to big game and away from habitats for threatened and endangered species.
When Fox News Digital reached out to the National Audubon Society, an environmental group that has provided input to BLM on the potential environmental impact of such potential solar development, a spokesperson for the group responded with a press release that was issued in August shortly after BLM announced its updated plan.
“The BLM’s revised Western Solar Plan improves on the initial draft and strikes a clearer balance between solar energy development and wildlife conservation,” Garry George, senior director of climate strategy at the National Audubon Society, wrote in the release. “We look forward to further reviewing the document, and the Greater sage-grouse plans once finalized, to provide more input to BLM.”
Rosendale says that the potential solar panel development on federal lands would need to be heavily subsidized by taxpayers. (U.S. Department of Interior)
Rosendale, however, said that he believes BLM needs to change their plan entirely.
“I think we need to allow the evolution of business to develop more effective, more efficient, more reliable ways of generating that energy,” he said.
“We will be utilizing coal and natural gas for decades coming into the future,” Rosendale said. “And while it’s a nice idea to start looking at alternative means of energy production, to place mandates on the power companies to have to purchase this type of energy and to put mandates on the land that it can only be used for this when the law currently says that we should be placing food production on those acres at the top of the priority list. It’s not just wrong, it’s against the law.”
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Other lawmakers in Western states have also expressed concern over BLM’s plan for solar development.
Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; Jim Risch, R-Idaho; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo;, Steve Daines, R-Mont.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah, all opposed the updated Western Solar Plan over worries it could disrupt grazing, mineral development and recreation.
Other Republican lawmakers also expressed concern that the potential solar field development could disrupt grazing, mineral development and recreation. (BLM Southern Nevada District Office)
“[W]e remain concerned that these are lands that many already stake their livelihoods on through other multiple uses,” the senators wrote in a letter to Stone-Manning. “Some uses, such as grazing, are not just disrupted, but wholly shut out of public land as solar becomes more prevalent.”
Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who is also chairman of the Western Caucus, and Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., sent Stone-Manning a separate letter requesting the agency withdraw its proposed updated Western Solar Plan over concerns about grazing and unreliable energy.
“This plan risks violating the multiple-use mandate for public lands established by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and threatens valuable grazing lands while also elevating intermittent energy over more affordable and reliable sources,” Newhouse wrote.
Hageman argued that such a plan would “upend existing activities that drive America’s energy independence” and weaken America’s energy grid through “unreliable energy sources.”
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“The Biden-Harris assault on our Western way of life needs to be brought to a swift end this November, before they can inflict even more damage,” the congresswoman wrote.
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San Francisco, CA
Vigil held for 2-year-old girl killed in SF Mission Bay crash
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Walk SF and Families for Safe Streets held a vigil Monday evening to honor a 2-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a driver Friday night in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.
The crash happened just before 9 p.m. at Fourth and Channel streets near Oracle Park. Police said the child’s mother was also injured and taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver remained at the scene, and authorities said drugs or alcohol are not believed to be factors.
Community heartbroken
Community members gathered at the intersection Monday to light candles and lay flowers. Among them was the Howard family.
“We’re just heartbroken and sad,” said Hidelisa Howard.
“I was thinking about heartbroken parents, someone who cannot get their daughter back,” said John Howard.
The intersection is designated as part of San Francisco’s 2022 High Injury Network, identifying streets with the highest concentration of severe and fatal traffic crashes. Speed cameras were recently installed in the surrounding neighborhood.
Jodie Medeiros, executive director of Walk SF, called the crash a tragedy, noting a previous fatal collision involving a child at Fourth and King streets several years ago.
Traffic intensifies
Parents in the area said traffic has intensified with nearby events and development.
“We love having people here in the neighborhood, and it’s brought a lot of life to the area,” said Hidelisa Howard, who lives nearby. “But at the same time, we have people coming in from out of the area. They’re not familiar with the streets, they’re running the lights, they’re running the crosswalks.”
District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey said the intersection has been problematic.
“Sometimes people go too fast. I don’t know that this was the issue here, but we need to do everything we can to make our neighborhoods and our streets safer,” Dorsey said.
On Monday, crews with the SFMTA repainted crosswalks and re-timed traffic signals at the intersection.
“It just feels like there’s so many young children in this neighborhood that there should be improvements made to the way that the traffic flows around here,” said Aanisha Jain, a San Francisco resident.
Denver, CO
Denver bans federal law enforcement officers from covering their faces, DHS says it won’t comply
Denver city leaders unanimously passed a ban on all officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, from wearing face coverings while detaining or arresting people. That law also requires officers to wear visible identification.
It’s the second sweeping ordinance against federal officers in Denver in just a few days. Last Thursday, Mayor Mike Johnston signed an executive order banning federal immigration agents from operating on city property without a judicial warrant.
It also directs Denver police, deputies and fire personnel to investigate reports of violence and criminal behavior.
The Department of Homeland Security responded calling the executive order “legally illiterate,” adding, “no local official has the authority to bar ICE from carrying out federal law on public property … and while Mayor Johnston continues to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto their streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals.”
DHS didn’t mince words when responding to Denver’s new face coverings ban either, saying in part, “To be crystal clear: we will not abide by a city council’s unconstitutional ban. Our officers wear masks to protect themselves from being doxxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers. Not only is ICE law enforcement facing a more than 1,300 percent increase in assaults against them, but we’ve also seen thugs launch websites to reveal officers’ identity.”
On the other hand, the Denver City Council didn’t mince words when it approved the ban.
“It’s very disturbing to me, as an American, to see masked agents on the street,” said Councilman Kevin Flynn who represents District 2. “I don’t know what the best way is to enforce our immigration laws, but I think I know the worst way when I see it.”
“I said all along, this was a slam dunk,” added Councilman Darrell Watson of District 9.
Last month, a federal judge struck down a California law prohibiting federal agents from wearing masks. But, the city council says it made sure its ordinance is enforceable.
You have to treat all law enforcement the same,” said City Council President Amanda Sandoval. “So, our sheriffs can’t have masks. Our State Patrol can’t have masks. And federally you can’t have masks. And we delineate that within the ordinance which, that’s where California got the issue.”
Sandoval said she was monitoring the legal process and comparing the two ordinances to ensure they would be good to go.
Although the city council believes the ordinance is constitutional, the Denver Police Department says it’s still working to determine what implementation could look like, and provided this statement to CBS Colorado:
“Our Safety departments are working with the City Attorney and bill sponsors to determine what implementation could look like. Of utmost importance is discretion and prioritizing de-escalation when encountering these situations. Our goal is to apply this ordinance in a way that builds trust and transparency without putting officers, deputies, or the public at risk.”
Coupled with the city’s new executive order, Sandoval believes Denver now has the necessary guidelines in place.
“A map for residents to understand predictability, and that’s what I always want, is what can the residents be able to rely on.”
There are exemptions in place for the ban, for example: during an active undercover operation, when gear is required for physical safety, and for personnel performing SWAT duties.
Seattle, WA
Joey Daccord makes 35 saves as Seattle Kraken earn 2-1 win over Hurricanes
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MARCH 02: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck during the second period of a game against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on March 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Christopher Mast / NHLI / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Joey Daccord made 35 saves and the Seattle Kraken survived a 6-on-4 penalty kill for the final 90 seconds for a 2-1 victory over the East’s top team in the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night.
Kaapo Kakko and Ben Meyers each scored in the second period for the Kraken as they managed to beat a Hurricanes team that has the second-best record in the NHL, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche. The Kraken are now in a playoff spot by five points as they hold the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division with 22 games to play.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored the only goal of the night for the Hurricanes late in the second period, but Seattle was able to withstand Carolina’s offensive push in the final period to secure a second straight victory.
The Hurricanes are always a high-volume shooting team and Daccord faced plenty of chances. Carolina had 83 shot attempts to just 31 for the Kraken. Shots on goal were 36-15 in favor of the Hurricanes as well, but scoring chances were just 20-13 in Carolina’s favor as Seattle did a good job limiting the danger of the shots sent at Daccord.
It was an eventful but scoreless first period between the two teams, with Carolina owning a 13-7 edge in shots. All three goals would come in the second.
Adam Larsson – who assisted on both goals for Seattle – deflected an Alexander Nikishin into the neutral zone to start a two-on-one rush chance for Kakko with Berkly Catton in support as Kakko ripped a shot through the armpit of Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen for a 1-0 lead.
Kakko said he wanted to make the pass to Catton, but the lane was covered by Shane Ghostisbehere, so he elected to shoot.
The Kraken earned a power play chance three minutes later on a tripping call against Eric Robinson. Carolina completely neutered the man-advantage for the first 90 seconds before the Kraken appeared to extend the lead.
With 15 seconds left on the power play, the Kraken rushed into the Hurricanes’ zone with Kakko finding a streaking Jaden Schwartz open on the back door for an easy finish behind Andersen. However, Carolina successfully challenged the goal for a missed offsides on Shane Wright that wiped out the goal.
But the Kraken still managed to extend the lead soon after.
Jacob Melanson continues to be a spark plug for Seattle and helped restore the momentum immediately after the disallowed goal. On the shift coming out of the power play, Melanson delivered a big hit and connected with Adam Larsson on a breakout pass that sparked a rush. Ben Meyers crashed toward the net and was able to finish off his own rebound on a pass from Freddy Gaudreau to officially make it a 2-0 lead.
Melanson didn’t even get an assist out of the sequence, but was a big part of creating a goal for Seattle.
After being extremely sharp defensively all night, Carolina finally pounced on an opportunity the Kraken were unable to turn away. Vince Dunn was just unable to control a loose puck in front of Seattle’s net as it landed on the stick of Nikolaj Ehlers instead, who snapped a shot past Daccord to make it a 2-1 game with 90 seconds left in the second period.
The Hurricanes took 32 shots in the third period as they attempted to find a tying goal, but only nine made it to Daccord, and he stopped them all.
Eeli Tolvanen was called for Seattle’s first and only penalty of the night – a holding call after breaking his stick – with 90 seconds left to play. With Andersen on the bench for a six-on-four chance for Carolina, Daccord stopped all three shots he faced to close out the win for Seattle.
The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
MORE KRAKEN NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Jordan Eberle scores twice as Seattle Kraken roll to 5-1 win over Canucks
Dylan Holloway scores hat trick as Seattle Kraken lose 5-1 to Blues
Seattle Kraken flounder to 4-1 loss to Stars in return from Olympics break
Seattle Kraken reach two-year extensions with Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton
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