Interior Requires Personal Sign-Offs for Wind and Solar Projects on Federal Land

The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued a directive requiring Secretary Doug Burgum to personally review and approve all wind and solar energy projects on federal land. This move, outlined in an internal memo obtained by POLITICO, significantly increases scrutiny over renewable energy projects, potentially delaying approvals and construction across vast swaths of federal land.
The directive mandates that Burgum’s office directly oversee all decisions related to wind and solar facilities, including scoping reports, access road authorizations, and cost recovery agreements. This expansive review process applies to all stages of project development, from initial planning to final construction.
The new policy comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to curtail wind and solar subsidies, despite recent legislative efforts by moderate Republicans to preserve federal tax credits for these energy sources. Gregory Wischer, Interior’s deputy chief of staff for policy, emphasized in the memo that no decision regarding wind or solar projects would proceed without Burgum’s explicit sign-off.
This heightened oversight could significantly slow the permitting process for renewable energy projects, impacting development in some of the country’s most sun- and wind-rich regions. The directive reflects the administration’s focus on tightening control over federal land use and aligning energy policies with its broader conservative agenda.

Published: 7/17/2025