The US Department of the Interior has announced it will no longer offer preferential treatment to wind and solar energy developments on public lands.
The decision follows the signing of Executive Order 14315, Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources, and the implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Under the new policy, all decisions related to wind and solar facilities – including leases, rights-of-way, construction and operational plans, and environmental consultations – will be subject to increased scrutiny by the Office of the Secretary.
The Department states this oversight will ensure “thorough and deliberative” evaluations.
“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 US-based production of reliable baseload energy, not regulatory favouritism towards unreliable energy projects that are solely dependent on taxpayer subsidies and foreign-sourced equipment.”
Policy changes
As part of the policy shift, the Department plans to eliminate longstanding fee discounts for wind and solar developers. These include right-of-way and capacity fee reductions that have historically supported renewable energy projects on federal lands.
According to the Department, the move aims to level the playing field for other energy sources such as domestic natural gas and clean coal.
Officials argue that ending these subsidies will promote energy security, grid stability, and job creation by supporting “dispatchable, cost-effective and secure” energy technologies.
This marks a new milestone in the administration’s ongoing changes to federal energy policy, reversing support for renewable energy development seen under previous administrations.
The US solar industry spoke out against the initial executive order, signed 7 July, which threatened to undermine the domestic renewables sector in favour of fossil fuels. In Trump’s inaugural speech, the phrase “we will drill, baby, drill” indicated his preference for the already thriving oil industry.
