A US renewable energy trade group has slammed a new move from the administration of Donald Trump to bring all decisions related to wind and solar energy under “elevated review” by the office of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (pictured).
American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet said: “The recently released memo from the Interior Department is a bewildering departure from the Administration’s promise to bring down energy prices and make America competitive in the race against China for AI and data centres.”
A memo issued this week directs the “enhanced oversight” of all decisions related to wind and solar projects on federal land, including leases, rights-of-way, construction and operation plans, grants, consultations and biological opinions.
Grumet said the new move is not oversight, but rather obstruction “that will needlessly harm the fastest growing sources of electric power”.
“The move is particularly confounding as we look to the Administration to support bipartisan efforts in Congress to streamline permitting for all sources of American energy,” he added.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals Management Adam Suess said of the memo: “Today’s actions further deliver on President Trump’s promise to tackle the Green New Scam and protect the American taxpayers’ dollars.
“American Energy Dominance is driven by U.S.-based production of reliable baseload energy, not regulatory favouritism towards unreliable energy projects that are solely dependent on taxpayer subsidies and foreign-sourced equipment.”
The memo dovetails with provisions of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act that eliminate subsidies for renewable energy projects going forward.