[markvdb]

Of course this is not about someone having for sole purpose to sabotage the ELT. Someone at AES could have had a run-of-the-mill business plan. They go ahead with it despite scientific objections because their profits > science. Then the election happens, and it's a win-win for them from a business point of view. They get unexpected free leverage from a more transactional presidential administration to either drop the plan and get extra compensation.