Overview
- SEIA organized the letter to congressional leaders John Thune, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, warning of a permitting logjam.
- The companies ask lawmakers to revoke the July 15 Interior memo and pursue permitting reforms that ensure equal treatment for energy sources.
- The directive routes dozens of solar-related approvals through the Interior Secretary’s office and extends to projects on federal land as well as private projects that involve federal resources or consultation.
- SEIA estimates more than 500 projects totaling nearly 116 GW are at risk of delay or cancellation based on Energy Information Administration data.
- Industry groups say the policy functions as a near-total permitting freeze with significant exposure in states such as Texas, Virginia, Arizona and Nevada, while the Interior Department did not offer immediate comment.