Interior Secretary Burgum Requires Approval for All Federal Wind, Solar Projects

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has been ordered to personally approve all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters, implementing an "elevated review" process for activities including leases, rights-of-way, and construction plans. This directive aims to end what the Interior Department describes as preferential treatment for "unreliable, subsidy-dependent" renewable energy sources, aligning with President Donald Trump's broader policy to phase out tax credits for wind and solar projects while bolstering support for fossil fuels. The move is part of legislation and executive orders signed by President Trump that dismantle climate policies from the previous administration and seek to prioritize conventional energy sources for national security, grid stability, and job creation. Clean-energy advocates warn that the additional bureaucracy could delay critical projects, especially those needing to meet expiring federal tax incentives, potentially hindering the U.S. position in global artificial intelligence leadership and energy independence amid rising energy demands. Industry groups criticize the new oversight as counterproductive during a time of accelerating energy needs driven by data centers and electrification efforts. The policy shift reflects the Trump administration's commitment to reshape U.S. energy strategy by limiting subsidies for renewables and increasing reliance on domestic coal, natural gas, and other dispatchable energy sources.