The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) States That Political Attacks Threaten 116 GW Of Solar And Energy Storage Projects

 

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) states that political attacks threaten 116 GW of solar and energy storage projects, with half of planned capacity at risk of stalling.

 

The SEIA says political attacks are threatening more than 500 solar and energy storage projects, totaling nearly 116 gigawatts (GW), equivalent to half of the planned new electricity capacity in the U.S. by 2030.

 

These projects are spread across 44 states and could generate enough electricity to power 16 million U.S. homes. Of these, 73 GW of solar projects and 43 GW of energy storage projects have not yet received all the necessary federal, state, and local permits and are at risk of being targeted by the government.

 

Solar projects are now subject to a "final review" by the office of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, causing many projects to stall. This review extends beyond public land projects; many projects, wholly or partially located on private land, also face multiple federal reviews.

Federal-level intervention erodes private property rights and local decision-making power, allowing Washington bureaucrats to intervene in projects supported by landowners and communities. Even if a project complies with regulations, the federal government can unilaterally halt it, posing risks to landowners, farmers, ranchers, and private investors.

 

More than 50% of the planned power capacity in 18 states, including Texas, Virginia, Arizona, and Nevada, is at risk of being disrupted. These states are also the main areas where energy-intensive data centers are growing in the United States.