Wind and Solar GRAVY TRAIN HALTED—Billions at Risk

Wind turbines and a communication tower near a body of water under a clear blue sky

Americans have watched for years as wind and solar projects reaped handouts and special government favors, but this week, the Department of the Interior finally slammed the brakes on that gravy train.

At a Glance

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum now personally approves all wind and solar projects on federal land and water
Over 14,000 km² of onshore wind projects face possible cancellation; no new offshore wind lease sales
Policy shift justified by “ending preferential treatment” and exposing unreliability of wind and solar
Comes as renewable energy tax credits expire, fossil fuel support rises, and energy reliability takes center stage

Biden’s Green Handouts Get the Axe: Interior Shakes Up Energy Policy

After years of watching our tax dollars poured into unreliable wind and solar boondoggles under leftist administrations, the Department of the Interior has finally called a halt. On July 17, Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order putting a stop to the rubber-stamping of wind and solar projects on federal lands and waters. No more backroom deals. No more “special treatment.” Burgum himself must now personally approve every single wind and solar project that touches federal property, putting direct accountability back at the top where it belongs.

This is more than bureaucratic wrangling—it’s a firm rejection of the policies that fueled wind turbines across America’s public lands whether they worked or not. The Department of the Interior released details at the end of July, spelling out the potential cancellation of more than 14,000 square kilometers of onshore wind projects and a hard pause on any new offshore wind leases. The renewable energy industry—used to endless federal handouts—now faces a level of scrutiny they’ve dodged for too long. Burgum’s order marks a clean break with the previous era, where so-called “green” projects were fast-tracked despite their failures and costs to taxpayers.

Preferential Treatment Ends as Energy Policy Flips

The Department of the Interior’s new policy isn’t just about slowing down wind and solar. It’s about ending the era where these projects were propped up by subsidies and rubber-stamped with little concern for their impact or effectiveness. The Interior’s statement made it clear: the days of “preferential treatment for unreliable, subsidy-dependent wind and solar energy” are over.

Federal support for fossil fuels is rising, reflecting a renewed focus on energy reliability and independence. This shift comes alongside the expiration of renewable energy tax credits, thanks to a tax-cut and spending bill signed on July 4 by President Trump. No longer will taxpayer dollars be wasted on unreliable energy sources that depend on government largesse to survive. Instead, the administration is turning its attention to proven sources of energy—oil, gas, and coal—that keep the lights on and the economy running.

Winners and Losers: Who Benefits, Who Cries Foul

These sweeping changes have sent shockwaves through the renewable energy industry, which is now rushing to salvage projects before tax credits expire and regulatory delays pile up. Industry groups are wailing about “bureaucracy and red tape,” but after years of unchecked growth and subsidies, it’s time they faced the same scrutiny as every other industry. Fossil fuel producers, on the other hand, are finally getting a fair shake after being demonized and sidelined by the previous administration’s ideological crusade.

Environmental groups are split. Some, worried about the real impact of wind turbines on migratory birds and wildlife, actually support the new scrutiny. Others continue to cling to climate alarmism, insisting that any rollback of wind and solar will doom the planet. The real losers? The green lobbyists and corporate rent-seekers who’ve relied on federal handouts and political favoritism instead of delivering reliable power.

Bureaucratic Bottlenecks or Common Sense Oversight?

By requiring Burgum’s personal sign-off on every wind and solar project, the Department of the Interior has centralized authority and ended the era of fast-tracking every green energy proposal that crossed a bureaucrat’s desk. Critics claim this will “hamstring” projects and undermine America’s position in global clean energy, but let’s be honest: these projects never would have survived without subsidies and preferential treatment in the first place.

For years, the American people have been told to accept rolling blackouts and soaring bills—all in the name of “transitioning” to unreliable renewable energy. Now, with energy demand rising and the unreliability of wind and solar exposed, the pendulum is swinging back toward common sense. If wind and solar can compete on a level playing field, they’re welcome to try. But no more government handouts, no more environmental double standards, and no more sacrificing energy security for political virtue-signaling.