California promised developers a 270-day fast track for clean energy permits. Nearly two years later, the Fountain Wind project is still waiting, tangled in local opposition and agency delays. (POLITICO)
The 71-turbine project in Shasta County hit a roadblock when the local water district pulled support, halting its state review clock at 650+ days.
Industry leaders warn that without faster approvals, California risks missing its 2045 clean energy goals, with thousands of MWs of wind, solar, and storage stuck in permitting limbo.
Lawmakers are weighing a bill to strengthen the state’s authority, but rural counties argue local control should outweigh Sacramento’s push for speed.