Trump administration accused of stifling renewables on US public lands

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image: Flickr/Gage Skidmore.

The Trump administration has stifled solar and other renewables development on public lands in the US, achieving less than the Obama administration and hindering the country’s renewable energy transition.

That damning verdict has been delivered within a report published today by the Center for American Progress, whose authors Nicole Gentile and Kate Kelly have slammed the US President’s hostility towards and neglect of renewables.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The think tank said that President Trump’s “antipathy” towards renewables had been reflected in his administration’s policies, highlighting the imposition of new trade tariffs and opposition to continued tax credits as having cost jobs, stunted growth and impeded decarbonisation of the US’ power system.

The report also argues that the administration has exhibited “equal parts neglect and hostility” towards wind and solar companies, highlighting recent decisions from the US Department of the Interior to grant relief to the domestic oil and gas industry while issuing retroactive rent bills to solar and wind developers.

It goes on to suggest that its analysis provides evidence that Trump’s government has stymied responsibly sited wind and solar projects on public lands, “squandering the momentum generated by the Obama administration” that preceded it.

The full analysis – which can be read here – effectively grades the Trump administration on five specific categories necessary in advancing renewables developments on public lands. It shows that;

  • The Trump administration has approved fewer renewables projects than the Obama administration had at the same point of its first term;
  • Wiped out the Bureau of Land Management’s renewables permitting office;
  • Scrapped landscape-level renewable development plans;
  • Slowed and in some cases stopped competitive renewable energy lease offers, and;
  • Given priority access to oil and gas lobbyists at the expense of those in renewable energy.

Furthermore the report argues that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has “amplified” the Trump administration’s attacks on renewables through the uneven treatment of the clean energy and fossil fuel sectors in stimulus measures.

While the Trump administration did indeed resist calls to include an extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in the country’s first COVID-related economic stimulus bill earlier this year, a new Bill, tabled earlier this week by House Democrats, has sought to introduce a raft of new legislative measures to support solar and other renewable energies in the US.

The CAP report goes on to issue a number of recommendations that could “kickstart responsible clean energy development”, including establishing an ambitious goal of permitting around 30GW of renewable energy developments on public lands and water by 2030, more than double the current capacity.

It has also called on the Department of the Interior to reestablish and fund renewable energy offices within various sub-departments.

“Nearly four years into the Trump administration, the renewable energy industry is looking worse for the wear. At a time when the nation’s leaders should be working to address climate change and rebuild a just economy that will serve all families, the Trump administration has, instead, actively undermined progress of solar and wind energy development, particularly on public lands and waters,” the report’s conclusion reads.

“The Trump administration’s disparate treatment of the renewable energy and oil and gas industries during the COVID-19-fueled economic downturn has brought this troubling pattern into sharp focus. An administration looking to transition to a clean energy economy and create jobs should start with ramping up responsible clean energy development on U.S. public lands and waters.”

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

October 3, 2025
Renewables developer Madison Energy Infrastructure has bought the US distributed generation assets of NextEra Energy Resources.
October 3, 2025
EDF Renewables and Enlight Renewable Energy have advanced solar-plus-storage projects in New Mexico and Arizona.
October 3, 2025
SunStrong Management has raised US$900 million to refinance a 'large portfolio' of residential solar assets developed by SunPower.
October 3, 2025
The US solar manufacturing industry is feeling bullish, despite the policy whiplash inflicted over the summer and the increased pressure on US solar supply chains.
October 2, 2025
PV products using perovskite technology could assume a dominant position within the next ten years, according to module producer Qcells' CTO.
October 1, 2025
North Carolina-based engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company Blue Ridge Power has laid off more than 500 of its employees at two locations.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland