U.S. federal freeze stalls wind-solar permits on public lands

• Federal approvals for major wind and solar on U.S. public lands have largely halted, with over 500 projects delayed and heightened political scrutiny.

A sweeping slowdown in federal approvals has effectively frozen most new wind and solar projects on U.S. public lands. Reuters reports just one solar project has cleared Interior since July, while more than 500 clean-energy proposals await decisions that now require personal sign-off by the Secretary. The stall is particularly acute in Nevada, where 33 GW of pipeline hangs on Bureau of Land Management reviews and wildlife permits. 

The policy whiplash matters beyond federal acreage. Many private or state-land builds still need federal crossings, water, or wildlife clearances, which are now harder to secure. Developers warn of slipping energization dates, higher financing costs, and strained local budgets in communities banking on construction jobs and lease revenues.

Without a process reset, 2026–2028 commissioning schedules could thin out—complicating reliability as demand rises (data centers, electrification) and legacy units retire. Industry groups are pushing for clear timelines, technical criteria, and delegated authority to avoid decision bottlenecks at the top.

For now, sponsors are focusing on state-level siting, repowering, and transmission-adjacent sites with fewer federal touchpoints—tactics that keep some solar moving while D.C. politics play out.