The Interior Department's latest directive mandates closer scrutiny of renewable energy project approvals, raising concerns over potential delays and bottlenecks.
Interior Department Implements Rigorous Review for Renewable Energy Projects
Interior Department Implements Rigorous Review for Renewable Energy Projects
New regulations introduced by the Trump administration could hinder wind and solar initiatives across the country.
The Trump administration has announced that the Interior Department will impose stricter political scrutiny on wind and solar energy projects, a move that could significantly slow the development of renewable energy initiatives nationwide. According to a memo released on Thursday, the review of various agency actions related to the approval of new wind and solar power facilities will now fall under the authority of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum rather than being handled by lower-ranking agency personnel.
This mandate affects over 68 different types of actions, encompassing federal permits, environmental assessments, lease agreements, site plans, wildlife impact analyses, and various minor decisions. The Interior Department justified the change, stating it was aimed at “ending preferential treatment for unreliable, subsidy-dependent wind and solar energy.” However, experts anticipate that this broad review process could lead to considerable delays for numerous renewable energy projects.
Although a limited number of wind and solar initiatives are conducted on federal lands and waters controlled by the Interior Department, many projects located on private lands often seek consultation with the agency to ensure compliance with federal regulations concerning wildlife protection and other legislation. The new review process could impact these consultations, thereby creating operational bottlenecks that hinder the growth of the renewable energy sector.
