Trump Administration Slows Solar Permitting and Grid Improvements

The Federal government of the United States has shifted its energy policy toward fossil fuels, resulting in the slowdown of federal permitting for large-scale solar and battery projects and the blocking of grid improvements. These policy changes threaten more than 500 planned solar projects nationwide, which the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reports could have provided enough clean energy to power 16 million homes.

The impact is most acute in the Mountain West, where 18 states have more than half of their planned power capacity at risk. Nevada faces the highest risk at 94%, followed by Arizona at 72%, Montana at 54%, and Colorado at 52%.

SEIA warns that these delays jeopardize grid reliability and jobs at a time when electricity demand is surging due to the growth of AI data centers and electric vehicles. The trade group is urging federal agencies to restore renewable energy incentives and accelerate the permitting process to maintain power costs and keep projects on track.