The two top Senate Democratic negotiators of a potential energy permitting deal say the Interior Department’s move to process once-stalled solar projects could open the door to restarting talks — if the Trump administration keeps it up.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) paused permitting reform negotiations in December after the administration issued stop-work orders on five offshore wind projects.
They argued there was little point in continuing discussions if the White House was going to keep targeting renewable energy. Beyond offshore wind, Heinrich had pointed to what Democrats have been calling an Interior “shadow ban” on solar projects.
But the department said last week it was “actively reviewing permitting” for large-scale solar and onshore wind projects. That was a change in posture from previous months.
