US President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will not approve new solar or wind power projects, despite growing demand for electricity in some parts of the country. The decision comes as the permitting process for renewable energy projects is now centralized under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
The move is expected to heighten concerns among renewable companies, who fear they will no longer receive permits without controversy. Trump has long complained about the space solar panels take up and blames renewables for rising electricity prices in the US.
Despite this, experts say that solar and battery storage can quickly ease the supply-and-demand gap in the grid, as they account for a majority of projects lined up to connect to the grid. The administration’s attacks on renewables have included terminating investment and production tax credits for wind and solar by 2027 and imposing steel and copper tariffs that increase project costs.
The US Department of Agriculture has also ended its support for solar projects on farmland, further exacerbating concerns about the impact of Trump’s policies on renewable energy.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/20/trump-says-us-will-not-approve-solar-or-wind-power-projects.html