In a major shift, the Trump administration has made it harder for renewable energy projects to move forward on U.S.-owned land. A new decision from the Department of the Interior now puts final control in the hands of the Interior Secretary for every part of the federal permitting process.
Tighter Federal Control for Renewable Projects
This means that the Secretary will personally review and approve or deny everything related to renewable energy projects. This includes leases, routes for power lines, construction plans, and other permits needed to start or expand solar and wind energy sites.
The department says it wants to create “a level playing field” for fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. They argue that under the previous administration, wind and solar were given special advantages. Now, the goal is to remove what they call “preferential treatment” for renewables.
An official memo was sent out inside the department this week explaining the change. It states that all major wind and solar projects on federal land will go through additional reviews before they can proceed. This adds several new steps to the approval process.
Renewable Groups Call It “Obstruction”
Leaders in the renewable energy industry are calling this move a big setback. The largest group representing solar and wind companies says these new rules are not about fairness—they are about slowing down clean energy projects.
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They say that adding more layers of government review will make it harder to build new energy sites. These new rules, they claim, will lead to long delays in starting construction. Some even fear that projects may be canceled altogether due to the extra hurdles.
They also point out that this comes at a time when the U.S. needs more electricity. With the rise of artificial intelligence, data centers, and electric cars, electricity use is going up fast. The quickest and least expensive ways to satisfy this expanding need, according to industry experts, are wind and solar.
A spokesperson from a major solar group said this move hurts America’s ability to stay energy strong. They also criticized the decision for favoring older sources like coal and natural gas instead of supporting newer, cleaner technologies.
A Pattern of Actions Against Renewables
This new permitting rule is only the latest step taken by the Trump administration against the renewable energy sector. Earlier, a new law called the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” was passed, which removed key tax benefits for wind and solar companies. These tax credits helped many companies build affordable energy projects across the country.
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Soon after that law passed, the President signed an executive order. It told the Interior Department to stop giving any special treatment to wind and solar projects. The order called for equal or better treatment of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, which are known as “dispatchable” because they can be turned on and off easily.
While these actions are expected to have the biggest impact on companies using federal land, it is important to know that not all renewable projects are affected. According to industry data, only 5% of solar projects and just 1% of wind projects are located on federal property. Still, the areas affected include some of the largest and most ambitious energy plans.
Energy developers say that even if the number of affected projects is small, the message being sent is large. They believe the government is making it harder to invest in and grow clean energy in the U.S.
By changing how wind and solar are reviewed and approved, critics say the administration is pushing the country away from progress. The industry now fears that investors may step back, worried about long delays or sudden policy shifts.
