Secretary Burgum Must Personally Approve All Renewable Energy Projects On Federal Lands - CleanTechnica

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has issued a directive requiring Secretary Doug Burgum’s personal approval for all wind and solar energy projects on federal lands and waters, significantly increasing scrutiny over renewable energy development. This policy shift aligns with the Trump administration’s broader agenda to reduce federal support for renewables and bolster conventional energy sources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear. The directive follows President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending subsidies for what are deemed “unreliable” and foreign-controlled energy sources, as well as the recent “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which phases out tax credits for wind and solar energy. DOI officials argue that these changes will promote grid reliability, national security, and American job creation by leveling the playing field for dispatchable energy sources. Industry and environmental groups have strongly opposed the directive, warning that the additional approval requirements could delay or derail renewable projects already vulnerable due to expiring tax incentives. They emphasize that such delays would increase costs, create uncertainty, and hinder the deployment