Trump Administration Is Delaying Hundreds of Wind and Solar Projects

The Trump administration has slowed or halted federal approvals for onshore wind and solar projects nationwide, imposing additional reviews that developers say have effectively stalled routine permitting for projects on both federal and private land. The Jackalope Wind project in Wyoming, which had a long-term power purchase lined up, stalled after an Interior Department environmental review was delayed; Idaho Power canceled its contracts and is accelerating plans to install gas-fired engines, and the developer NextEra ultimately abandoned the project.

An Interior memo routed many project decisions to Secretary Doug Burgum’s office, and the Army Corps of Engineers and Transportation Department put in new restrictions; projects often require Corps, Fish and Wildlife and FAA approvals, and industry groups say more than 60 large projects on federal land and about 73,000 megawatts of solar on land are at risk.

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