Obama-backed $2.2B green energy 'boondoggle' leaves taxpayers on the hook
The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant, a $2.2 billion Obama-era green energy project, continues to operate despite criticism over high costs and underperformance. Federal taxpayers backed the plant with a $1.6 billion loan, and keeping it open shifts expenses to electricity customers. California regulators have blocked closure efforts, citing grid reliability concerns, while critics call it a financial boondoggle.
- ▪The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant received $2.2 billion in funding, including a $1.6 billion federal loan backed by taxpayers.
- ▪Both the Trump and Biden administrations, along with the utility purchasing its power, have sought to shut down the plant due to high electricity costs and underperformance.
- ▪California regulators have refused to allow the closure, warning it could strain the state's power grid.
- ▪Critics, including Daniel Turner of Power The Future, argue the plant is economically unviable and kept open for political reasons.
- ▪The facility uses 350,000 mirrors to generate power but has been overtaken by cheaper and more efficient solar technologies.
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Costs Obama-backed $2.2B green energy 'boondoggle' leaves taxpayers on the hook Roughly $730M to $780M remains on a $1.6B federal loan, and one critic calls the Ivanpah facility a 'boondoggle' By Michael Dorgan Fox News Published May 2, 2026 12:56pm EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Experts weigh in on future of $2.2B Obama-era Ivanpah solar plant as regulators keep it open Experts weigh in on the future of the $2.2B Ivanpah solar plant as officials clash over whether it should remain open despite high electricity costs. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Federal taxpayers helped build a $2.2 billion solar plant — now electricity customers are on the hook to keep it running.
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