Bummer: Trump Admin Stalling Wind And Solar Through New Permitting Requirements

Well, if they were taking public money then they’re at the whim of whomever runs the government

Dozens of Wind and Solar Projects Stall as Trump Cracks Down on Renewables

The Trump administration has sharply escalated its attacks on wind and solar power in recent days, issuing a barrage of policies that could halt the construction of renewable energy projects on public and private lands across the country.

The Interior Department is now requiring dozens of formerly routine consultations and approvals for wind and solar projects to undergo new layers of political review by the interior secretary’s office, a policy that is causing significant permitting delays. The agency is also opening investigations into bird deaths caused by wind farms and withdrawing millions of acres of federal waters previously available for leasing by offshore wind companies.

The Interior Department also signaled that it would review wind projects that have already been approved by the federal government but are being sued by opponents, and consider rescinding their permits, a step that could halt projects already under construction.

On Wednesday, the agency said it was reversing a Biden administration decision to approve the Lava Ridge Wind Project, a giant wind farm planned for southern Idaho that was opposed by state lawmakers because, among other things, it would be visible from the Minidoka National Historic Site, a World War II internment camp for Japanese Americans. The Trump administration said it had discovered “legal deficiencies” in the original approval but did not provide details.

Man, it’s a real shame when the tactics Democrats use to stop things they do not like are used against them, eh?

Dozens of wind and solar projects that sit on both public and private lands nationwide are now stalled while waiting for what were once ordinary approvals from the federal government, Mr. Grumet said. While fewer than 5 percent of solar and wind projects are on public lands directly overseen by the Interior Department, many projects on private lands often need federal approvals to comply with wildlife protections or other laws.

One planned solar facility on private land in the Upper Midwest is currently delayed because federal agencies have halted all discussions over a needed water permit. Another large solar farm on private land in the West is being held up because it must now undergo three layers of political review, including by Mr. Burgum’s office.

Hmm, that whole “well, it’s your land, but, Los Federales will dictate what you can do on it” sure has come full circle, eh?

Elizabeth Peace, a spokeswoman for the Interior Department, declined to comment on the delays but defended the agency’s stricter reviews. “Evaluating land use efficiency and environmental impact isn’t partisan, it’s responsible governance,” she said.

That’s going to leave a mark.

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