Trump officials quietly tighten control over renewable energy projects on public lands
The U.S. Interior Department now requires wind and solar projects on federal land to receive personal approval from Secretary Doug Burgum, a move that could delay clean energy development across millions of acres.
Josh Siegel and Zack Colman report for POLITICO.
In short:
- A leaked memo shows Interior Secretary Doug Burgum must personally review all federal decisions related to wind and solar energy projects, covering every stage from planning to permitting.
- The directive aligns with President Trump’s executive orders prioritizing fossil fuel production and enforcing the phaseout of wind and solar tax credits, with no recognition of wind or solar as energy sources under the national energy emergency declaration.
- Interior says the move ensures policy consistency, but critics argue it adds bureaucratic barriers designed to stall renewable energy development on federal lands.
Key quote:
“It absolutely will create so much bureaucratic process that no solar or wind projects are likely to move in a timely and efficient manner, if at all. For an administration so focused on eliminating unnecessary roadblocks, this is a clear attempt to use ‘the process’ to kill projects.”
— Eric Beightel, former executive director of the Federal Permitting Council
Why this matters:
Public lands hold vast untapped potential for renewable energy, offering enough solar and wind capacity to transform how the U.S. powers homes, cities, and industry. But shifting federal policy away from these sources and toward fossil fuels threatens to lock in higher carbon emissions at a time when the climate crisis demands urgent action. Clean energy development also tends to require fewer water resources, emit less air pollution, and pose fewer long-term health risks to nearby communities compared with fossil fuel extraction. Delays in permitting could stall progress in regions rich with sun and wind, limiting access to cleaner, more affordable electricity — especially in rural and underserved areas that stand to benefit most.
Related: Trump administration seeks to open more public lands to oil, gas and mining under new Interior plan
