Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and top agency leaders must approve any action advancing solar and wind power projects under federal permitting review, according to a guidance announced Thursday by the Interior Department.
In a memorandum sent to all assistant secretaries and bureau and office heads, Gregory Wischer, the department’s deputy chief of staff for policy, says, “All decisions, actions, consultations, and other undertakings … related to wind and solar energy facilities” will now require “final review” by Burgum and be sent for “subsequent review” to Deputy Secretary Kate MacGregor.
Wischer’s memo lists 69 items requiring Burgum’s approval for solar and wind — including whether to issue a “notice to proceed” with permitting review on individual projects, as well as draft and final environmental reviews and records of decision. Some are as mundane as “preconstruction environmental surveys” and “facility design reports,” as well as “access road authorizations.”
The memo says these steps are consistent with various executive orders issued by President Donald Trump and will help ensure that green energy projects align with the administration’s energy policies.
