WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, 143 solar energy companies sent a letter urging the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to work with the Department of the Interior (DOI) to address the July DOI memo that has favored preferred energy sources and amounted to a near-complete moratorium on permitting for solar projects. The letter also urges Congress to keep fairness and certainty at the center of permitting negotiations.
“Federal agencies are implementing this directive in a way that amounts to a nearly complete moratorium on permitting for any project in which the Department of Interior may play a role, on both federal and private land, no matter how minor,” wrote 143 solar companies in the letter. “Businesses need certainty in order to continue making investments in the United States to build out much-needed energy projects. Certainty must include a review process that does not discriminate by energy source. We urge Congress to keep fairness and certainty at the center of permitting negotiations.”
The letter outlines the numerous permitting processes that have been impacted since the DOI memo was issued on July 15, including permits that occur under any DOI agency for projects on federal lands and private lands; permits from non-DOI federal agencies where the DOI has a consultative role; and projects on private lands that utilize DOI resources.
“For America’s solar industry, permitting reform starts with permit certainty. As 143 solar companies wrote in their letter to our Congressional leaders, without action to address this unequal treatment of solar energy, the industry will continue to face significant barriers to deployment and investment at a time of skyrocketing energy demand,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. “While the solar industry values the continued bipartisan engagement on permitting reform, the SPEED Act, as passed out of committee, falls short of addressing this core problem: the ongoing permitting moratorium.”
“To be clear, there is no question we need permitting reform,” Hopper continued. “There is an agreement to be reached, and SEIA and our 1,200 member companies will continue our months-long effort to advocate for a deal that ensures equal treatment of all energy sources, because the current status of this blockade is unsustainable.”
Last month, SEIA released an analysis of EIA data showing that more than 500 projects in the pipeline across the country are in danger of delays or cancellation as a result of political attacks.
Read the full letter here and below.
Dear Majority Leader Thune, Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader Jefferies,
As solar companies engaged in helping Americans across the country keep the lights on and prices low, we are writing today to express concern about the July 15 memo from the Secretary of Interior which creates burdensome red tape, effectively halting permitting for solar energy projects. This policy will significantly delay or cancel deployment of much-needed solar energy.
On its face, the July 15th memo requires elevated review for solar energy permits. However, federal agencies are implementing this directive in a way that amounts to a nearly complete moratorium on permitting for any project in which the Department of Interior may play a role, on both federal and private land, no matter how minor. This includes:
- Permits and consultations that occur under any DOI agency for projects on federal lands or any other project with a clear federal nexus.
- Permits and consultations for projects primarily on private lands that involve easements, rights-of-way or gen-ties crossing public land.
- Permits and consultations for projects on private lands that occur under DOI agencies including those requiring compliance with Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
- Permits from non-DOI federal agencies (e.g. Army Corps of Engineers) for private land projects where the DOI has a consultative role such as wetland impacts, water crossings, or tree removal.
- Projects on private land utilize DOI resources, such as IPaC, to determine species impacts.
We urge Congress to work with the Department of the Interior to address the unduly discriminatory and unprecedented government overreach, by revoking the July 15th memo.
In the alternative, we believe there are reasonable steps the Department of Interior can take in the short-term to prevent unnecessary delays in energy development that is currently poised to help meet the growing energy demands of AI and other industries.
Businesses need certainty in order to continue making investments in the United States to build out much-needed energy projects. Certainty must include a review process that does not discriminate by energy source. We urge Congress to keep fairness and certainty at the center of permitting negotiations.
Thank you for your consideration.