Political attacks on the solar and energy storage industries are threatening more than 500 projects, representing nearly 116 gigawatts (GW) of capacity. This constitutes over half of all new electricity generation planned for construction in the United States through 2030.
This obstruction is occurring just as electricity demand is surging to power artificial intelligence, data centers, and manufacturing, and the administration is using every tool at its disposal to slow-walk solar and storage projects.
This blockade is undermining U.S. energy security, raising costs for families and businesses, and exacerbating the “energy emergency” declared by the Trump Administration earlier this year. Meanwhile, China installed more renewable capacity in the first half of 2025 than the United States and the rest of the world combined.
A new SEIA analysis of U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows that 73 GW of solar and 43 GW of storage projects, which have not yet received all necessary federal, state, and local permits, are at risk of being targeted. These projects, spread across 44 states, could provide enough electricity to power 16 million homes. They represent the core of America’s energy future and are essential for meeting soaring demand and keeping prices affordable.
Yet, under a new energy permitting bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., projects large and small are getting stuck. This extends far beyond projects on public lands. Many solar and storage projects sited partially or entirely on private property are now being entangled in countless federal reviews.
Developers who have already secured local zoning approval, 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 follow the rules, the federal government can still stop you. This federal red tape also undermines the energy security and policy certainty businesses need to plan for the future.
Delays are spreading nationwide. Over 50% of planned electric capacity in 18 states is at risk of being blocked. Many of these states, including Texas, Virginia, Arizona, and Nevada, are projected to lead the nation in energy-intensive data center growth. If these projects cannot advance, customers will be forced to compete for a shrinking supply of electricity. That means higher prices and an unstable 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 to block half of the planned electricity destined for the grid. America’s solar and storage industries are ready to build, save customers money, and strengthen the grid. We just need Washington to get out of the way.
