19 lawmakers in the US have raised concerns over the impact of the DOI’s clean energy permitting policies
In a letter addressed to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, they call for greater transparency around the department’s handling of energy projects
The 19 House Democrats are asking the DOI to provide Congress with an updated account of its permitting activities, no later than August 28, 2026
The US Department of the Interior (DOI) is facing pressure from 19 House Democrats over delays in clean energy permitting, with lawmakers citing hundreds of projects at risk, including 450 solar projects under the department’s policies.
Representative Mike Levin, a California Democrat, and other lawmakers on the House Appropriations and Natural Resources committees raised the concerns in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The projects account for 36% of all new planned power capacity in the United States, the lawmakers said.
In July 2026, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said an estimated 445 solar and storage projects, representing 97 GW combined capacity, were at risk due to the DOI permitting blockades.
The House letter refers to the DOI’s July 2025 decision to subject wind and solar energy projects to heightened scrutiny and oversight, with elevated review by the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. It said that the ‘common-sense’ permitting standards will remove artificial advantages for wind and solar energy projects and create a level playing field for other sources such as clean coal and domestic natural gas (see Elevated US Federal Scrutiny For Wind & Solar Energy Projects).
However, in the letter, the lawmakers point out that other energy sources do not face the same scrutiny. Owing to this ‘increased and unnecessary bureaucracy, clean energy projects are taking longer to build or are being outright cancelled, right as prices rise and demand skyrockets’.
The lawmakers cited a June 2026 Corporate Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) report estimating that constraints on new solar and wind resources could increase US energy costs by $121.2 billion over seven years, from 2027 through 2033. Of this, $81.2 billion could be added to household electricity and natural gas bills, or about $11.6 billion annually. Commercial and industrial (C&I) customers could face another $40 billion in electricity costs, or about $5.7 billion annually. Altogether, these constraints could cost at least $121.2 billion in additional energy costs over the next seven years.
“The Trump Administration has intentionally delayed permit approvals for clean energy projects, including a near complete block on wind and solar energy permitting. Despite court orders to overturn these hurdles for clean energy developments, the Administration continues to place new barriers on projects that would provide American households with access to affordable renewable energy,” said Levin.
According to the letter, the DOI has also missed three deadlines to submit required status reports on energy project reviews under the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Under this act, the DOI is required to provide Congress with updates every 60 days. The three missed deadlines were March 24, 2026, May 23, 2026, and July 22, 2026. The DOI has since submitted its first report, but the lawmakers said the information was outdated.
The lawmakers have asked the DOI to submit an updated report by August 28, 2026. They want a list of projects currently under review under the department’s July 15, 2025, directive on wind and solar projects, along with each project’s status. The requested information would also cover wind and solar projects that have completed required reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and received authorization to begin construction.
Lawmakers also want details on projects rejected by the DOI or withdrawn by their sponsors since July 15, 2025, including the amount of generation capacity affected. The letter further asks for staffing levels by field office for employees handling wind and solar permitting, as well as those responsible for oil, gas, and coal projects.
Levin’s office said the letter seeks greater transparency on permit approvals and accountability for the department’s reporting requirements.
Earlier, a coalition of 143 solar companies had asked the US Congress to intervene and roll back the DOI’s July 2025 memo to ensure certainty for business investments in the US (see US Solar Industry Urges Congress To Fast-Track Permitting).
