Interior Secretary Doug Burgum must personally approve all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters, according to a new directive. This order mandates an elevated review process that encompasses various activities related to these projects. The aim is to eliminate preferential treatment for wind and solar energy. Critics argue this will hinder clean-energy projects that must commence quickly to secure expiring federal tax credits, especially as demand for energy increases. The order adds bureaucratic hurdles to energy project approvals, raising concerns about energy independence and competitiveness.
All solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum under a new order that authorizes him to conduct elevated review of activities ranging from leases to rights of way, construction and operational plans, grants and biological opinions.
The enhanced oversight on clean-energy projects is aimed at ending preferential treatment for unreliable, subsidy-dependent wind and solar energy, the Interior Department said in a statement Thursday.
At a time when energy demand is skyrocketing, adding more layers of bureaucracy and red tape for energy projects at the Interior Department is exactly the wrong approach, said Stephanie Bosh, senior vice president of the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Clean-energy advocates said the action could hamstring projects that need to be underway quickly to qualify for federal tax credits that are set to expire under the tax-cut and spending bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4.
Collection
[
|
...
]