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Federal Permitting Changes Place 92 Gigawatts of Clean Energy at Risk
U.S. federal permitting changes have placed 92 gigawatts of clean-energy projects valued at more than $121 billion at risk. Seven gigawatts of capacity on federal land were canceled or stalled in 2025 after funding withdrawals and new review rules.
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Federal permitting changes have placed 92 gigawatts of clean-energy projects at risk, a Wood Mackenzie report states. The projects represent more than $121 billion in investment. Seven gigawatts of clean-energy capacity on federal land were canceled or stalled in 2025 after federal funding withdrawals and permitting changes.
An August 2025 Department of the Interior directive requires senior-official approval for renewable-energy permits at every stage. The directive applies to projects on federal land and to many projects on private land that require federal permits for wetlands, wildlife, or access roads. Wind-project reviews by the Department of Defense have lengthened due to airspace considerations.
TechCrunch reported that approximately 32 percent of the early-stage U.S. renewable-energy project pipeline is now subject to additional federal scrutiny. The same outlet reported that solar projects sited on or near private wetlands are among those most exposed to permitting delays, with the most affected states including Oregon, Alabama, Maine, Minnesota, and Montana.
TechCrunch reported that renewables accounted for nearly 90 percent of the 53 GW of new U.S. generating capacity added in 2025. Electricity demand in the United States has risen after two decades of flat consumption, driven in part by data-center growth, the outlet stated.
