Stalled US permits threaten $121 billion in wind and solar investment, report shows

Trump administration policies that have stalled permits for renewable energy projects are putting more than $121 billion of investment at risk and slowing development of wind, solar and storage capacity needed to meet rising power demand, according to a report published on Monday.

The findings by energy research firm Wood Mackenzie highlighted tension between President Donald Trump’s goal of fast-tracking energy infrastructure to support the artificial intelligence boom and his opposition to renewable energy.

The report said it looked at early-stage projects valued at $121 billion that face investment risks due to delays. 

A total of 92 gigawatts of clean energy projects, about enough to power 69 million homes, face heightened federal scrutiny following changes last year including a Department of the Interior directive that renewable energy permits at every stage required the approval of senior officials.

Those measures have lengthened timelines for projects involving federal agencies, including many on private land that still require permits for wetlands, wildlife or access roads.

Permitting in wetland areas, overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the primary constraint on private lands, Wood Mackenzie said. Wind projects are also being held up by sluggish airspace reviews by the Department of Defense.

Overall, about 32% of the U.S. early-stage renewable pipeline is now subject to additional federal scrutiny, the report said.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats have sought to pass legislation to speed permitting for large projects.

A bill passed by the House of Representatives last year would meaningfully accelerate timelines, Wood Mackenzie said.

"Permitting remains one of the most critical barriers to advancing new projects, and without more coordinated and predictable processes, delays and uncertainty will continue to weigh on development timelines and investment decisions,” Gaby Ackermann Logan, a research associate at Wood Mackenzie, said in a statement.

The policy shift, alongside federal funding withdrawals, is already hitting projects on the ground.

Around 7 GW of capacity on federal land was cancelled or stalled in 2025, Wood Mackenzie said.