Trump administration expands reviews that could delay wind and solar development on federal lands

President Donald Trump’s administration has launched a sweeping review process for renewable energy projects on federal lands, slowing approvals as electricity demand rises and developers face expiring tax incentives.

Benjamin Storrow reports for E&E News.

In short:

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered that all renewable energy projects on federal lands must receive personal approval from him or his deputy, affecting dozens of solar and wind developments.
The administration has rolled back clean energy policies from the Biden era, ended new federal wind leases, and challenged green energy funding in court.
Industry officials warn the new rules could stall major projects, including some already permitted, as they scramble to meet tighter deadlines for federal tax credits.

Key quote:

“The Trump administration is extremely anti-renewables. I think this is fundamentally distorting the market and the broader transition that’s already occurring in the U.S. and occurring everywhere on the planet.”

— Michael Wara, senior research scholar at Stanford University

Why this matters:

Federal lands hold vast potential for large-scale wind and solar projects that could meet surging power demand and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Slowing or halting development on these lands reshapes the country’s energy mix, locking in more fossil fuel use at a time when extreme weather is straining the grid and threatening public health. Many rural and tribal communities also depend on federal land leases for jobs and revenue. Delays or cancellations could ripple through energy markets, raising costs and complicating state-level efforts to meet clean energy targets that hinge on federal cooperation.

Learn more: Trump administration redirects clean energy funds in defiance of Congress

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