The federal permitting slog is hampering clean energy projects with high costs and delays. (E&E News)
In February, clean energy finance platform Crux surveyed 50 renewable developers and permitting pros—all said their solar or wind projects had been "materially" impacted by federal permitting. Collectively, the process hindered an estimated 11 GW of these projects over the past year.
The price: Most developers claimed 6-10% increases in total project costs (some >25%). This translates to $10–14M in added expenses for a typical 100-MW solar project. Plus, over 80% of respondents said they had specifically sited some projects to avoid federal permitting requirements.
The fix? 72% of respondents said they’d prefer more predictable outcomes over quicker timelines or simpler processes. But permitting shifts might not happen anytime soon—Congress’s bipartisan reform push has reached a standstill.
Speaking of grid bottlenecks: Throughout PJM, network upgrade delays are halting 26 GW of new generation from reaching the grid and delaying 11.7 GW more. The worst-hit states? Illinois (ComEd) and Virginia (Dominion).