Hold That Project

Federal permitting slowdowns are delaying wind and solar plans

Wind and solar projects across the U.S. are experiencing significant delays—driven largely by federal permitting slowdowns, stricter reviews, and growing local opposition. 

Recent reporting, such as this report from the Governor's Wind and Solar Energy Coalition, shows hundreds of projects stalled nationwide, with developers warning that prolonged reviews threaten clean‑energy goals and could raise electricity prices.

Below is a clear breakdown of what’s causing the delays, how widespread they are, and what trends are emerging. Key drivers of delays include federal permitting slowdowns, stricter federal oversight, local and state opposition, and policy shifts prioritizing other energy sources.

For one, federal agencies have been delaying approvals for wind and solar projects on both federal and private land. These approvals were once routine but are now subject to extended review timelines. This has stalled hundreds of projects nationwide, including major utility‑scale developments.

Developers report that new federal reviews are slowing or derailing projects just as electricity demand rises. The permitting freeze has caused cancellations and investment shifts, with developers warning of higher future electricity prices.

Local zoning battles, community pushback, and state-level restrictions have become major barriers. A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory survey found that approximately 33% of wind and solar projects were canceled in the past five years. Roughly 50% experienced delays of six months or more, often due to zoning, grid interconnection issues, and local resistance.

Federal policy statements have emphasized that large wind and solar installations are “inefficient uses of federal lands” compared to nuclear, gas, and coal—signaling a shift in permitting priorities.

It's tough to pinpoint whether delays have truly been getting better or worse, but the consensus seems to lean towards the latter. Despite that, solar has seen some gradual improvements with the number of delays. In Q3 2025, 20% of planned solar capacity reported delays, down from 25% the previous year. Solar remains the fastest‑growing source of new U.S. generating capacity, and delay rates have been trending downward recently.

Wind projects, on the other hand, are still facing large bottlenecks. Large wind projects—especially those requiring federal land or long-distance transmission—continue to face significant permitting hurdles and local opposition.

In terms of what this means for the energy landscape, short-term impacts may include slower deployment of renewable capacity, potential upward pressure on electricity prices, and increased uncertainty for developers and investors. Long-term implications could mean that clean‑energy goals may be harder to meet on current timelines, transmission build‑out remains a critical bottleneck, and policy changes could dramatically alter the pace of future development.