Political attacks on the solar and storage industry are threatening more than 500 projects totaling nearly 116 gigawatts (GW) of capacity. That is more than half of all new power planned to be built in the United States through 2030.
At a time when electricity demand is skyrocketing to meet the needs of AI, data centers, and manufacturing, the Administration is using every tool at its disposal to slow down solar and storage projects.
This blockade is undermining American energy security, driving up costs for families and businesses, and exacerbating the “energy emergency” that the Trump administration itself declared earlier this year. Meanwhile, China built more renewable energy capacity in the first half of 2025 than the United States and the rest of the world combined.
New SEIA analysis of data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that 73 GW of solar and 43 GW of storage projects have not yet received all necessary federal, state and local permits and are at risk of being targeted by the administration. These projects are spread across 44 states and can provide enough electricity to power 16 million homes. They represent the heart of America’s energy future and are critical to meeting soaring demand and keeping prices affordable.
Yet, under Washington’s new energy permitting bureaucracy, projects large and small are being trapped in limbo. And this extends well beyond projects on public lands. Many solar and storage projects located partially or entirely on private property are now being entangled in a myriad of federal reviews.
Developers that have already secured local zoning approvals, completed environmental studies, and worked hand-in-hand with nearby communities are suddenly unable to move forward because their projects must still consult with federal agencies before construction can begin.
This federal overreach erodes private property rights and local decision-making, inserting Washington bureaucrats into projects that landowners and communities want to host. It sends a chilling message to landowners, farmers, ranchers, and private investors that even if you play by the rules, the federal government can still pull the plug. This federal red tape also undermines the energy security and policy certainty that businesses need to plan for the future.
Delays are rippling across the country. Eighteen states have over 50% of their planned electricity capacity at risk of being blocked. Many of these states, including Texas, Virginia, Arizona, and Nevada, are expected to lead the country in energy-intensive data center growth. If these projects can’t move forward, customers will be forced to compete for a shrinking supply of electricity. That means higher prices and a destabilized grid.
Three of the top five states most affected by these threats voted for President Trump in the 2024 election, including Texas, which alone accounts for nearly 40% of the at-risk projects.
Despite declaring an “energy emergency,” this administration is threatening half of planned power from reaching the grid. America’s solar and storage industry is ready to build, save customers money, and strengthen the grid. We just need Washington to get out of the way.
Visit SolarPowersAmerica.org to contact your representatives and demand action to restore the permitting of solar and storage projects and prevent your electricity bills from skyrocketing.
