Dept. of Interior Calls Wind and Solar Unreliable, Subsidy Dependent and Wants Ends of Preferential Treatment  

New directive elevates review of wind and solar projects, ends subsidies under One Big Beautiful Bill Act 

07/17/2025

Last edited 07/17/2025

Contact Information

Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON — In line with President Donald J. Trump’s Energy Dominance agenda, the Department of the Interior is ending preferential treatment for unreliable, subsidy-dependent wind and solar energy. The move follows the signing of Executive Order 14315, Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources, and implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. 

All Department-related decisions and actions concerning wind and solar energy facilities will undergo elevated review by the Office of the Secretary, including leases, rights-of-way, construction and operation plans, grants, consultations and biological opinions. This enhanced oversight will ensure all evaluations are thorough and deliberative. 

“Today’s actions further deliver on President Trump’s promise to tackle the Green New Scam and protect the American taxpayers’ dollars,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals Management Adam Suess. “American Energy Dominance is driven by U.S.-based production of reliable baseload energy, not regulatory favoritism towards unreliable energy projects that are solely dependent on taxpayer subsidies and foreign-sourced equipment.” 

As part of this effort, the Department will address provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to eliminate longstanding right-of-way and capacity fee discounts for existing and future wind and solar projects, bringing an end to years of subsidies for economically unviable energy development. 

By removing these artificial advantages, the Department is levelling the playing field for dispatchable, cost-effective and secure energy sources, such as clean coal and domestic natural gas, after years of assault under the previous administration. These actions mark a return to common-sense permitting standards that support national security, grid stability and American job creation. 

Addendum      (Ed note : yes it gets worse!):  

July 15, 2025

Assistant Secretaries

Bureau and Office Heads

From: Deputy Chief of Staff – Policy

Subject: Departmental Review Procedures for Decisions, Actions, Consultations, and

Other Undertakings Related to Wind and Solar Energy Facilities

Consistent with Executive Order (EO) 14315, entitled “Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for

Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources,” EO 14156, entitled “Declaring a National

Energy Emergency,” Presidential Memorandum, entitled “Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on

the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal

Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects,” Secretary’s Order (SO)

3417, entitled “Addressing the National Energy Emergency,” and SO 3418, entitled “Unleashing

American Energy,” all decisions, actions, consultations, and other undertakings—including but

not limited to the following—related to wind and solar energy facilities shall require submission

to the Office of the Executive Secretariat and Regulatory Affairs, subsequent review by the

Office of the Deputy Secretary, and final review by the Office of the Secretary:

1. Federal Register notices;

2. notices to proceed;

3. scoping reports;

4. determinations of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) adequacy;

5. draft and final environmental assessments;

6. draft, final, and supplemental environmental impact statements;

7. findings of no significant impact;

8. records of decision;

9. approval letters;

10. plans of development;

11. land use plan amendments and revisions;

12. land withdrawals and revocations;

13. areas of critical environmental concern designations;

14. site testing and monitoring authorizations;

15. proposed and final sale notices;

16. lease sales;

17. lease assignments;

18. lease issuances;

19. proofs of construction;

20. site assessment plans;

21. preconstruction environmental surveys;

22. supplemental environmental reports;

23. temporary use permits;

24. access road authorizations;

25. utility corridor concurrences;

26. facility design reports;

27. fabrication and installation reports;

28. certified verification agent approvals;

29. construction and operation plans (COPs);

30. conditions of COP approvals;

31. COP revisions;

32. Engineering and Technical Review Branch recommendation memos;

33. proposed technical and navigational and aviation safety conditions;

34. cable burial risk assessments;

35. oil spill response plans;

36. decommissioning applications;

37. Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act compliance memos;

38. compendium reports;

39. memoranda of agreement;

40. compensatory mitigation plans;

41. historic properties management plans;

42. historic properties treatment plans;

43. performance and reclamation bonding approvals;

44. rental and royalty determinations;

45. cost recovery agreements;

46. financial assurances;

47. rights-of-use and easement;

48. right-of-way (ROW) applications;

49. ROW grants;

50. ROW leases;

51. ROW transfers;

52. leases and ROWs on Tribal lands;

53. Tribal environmental impact reviews;

54. government-to-government Tribal consultations;

55. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act determinations;

56. National Trails System impact evaluations;

57. National Landscape Conservation System coordination;

58. visual impact assessments;

59. visual resource management analyses;

60. cumulative historic resources visual effects analyses;

61. cultural resource consultations;

62. section 106 compliance under the National Historic Preservation Act;

63. consultation under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,

Endangered Species Act (ESA), Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and Bald and

Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA);

64. permits under the ESA, MBTA, and BGEPA;

65. biological assessments;

66. biological opinions;

67. approval and publication of studies and assessments, including ecological baseline

studies;

68. grants; and

69. any other similar or related decisions, actions, consultations, or undertakings.

These review procedures are effectively immediately.

Cc: Deputy Assistant Secretaries

Bureau and Office Deputy Heads

Assistant Secretary Chiefs of Staff

Bureau and Office Chiefs of Staff