Wind approvals stay stuck at the Pentagon despite a reported deal pledge

Only repowerings of existing wind sites have moved, trade groups say, while about 30 projects still wait on Pentagon sign-off.

Heatmap reports that the Trump administration has not advanced any new wind farms during permitting negotiations. Only upgrades to existing projects have been approved. The American Clean Power Association (ACP) told members, who are in litigation with the administration, that every project advanced in the past week was a repowering. It said two of those "projects" were a single turbine each.

The backdrop is airspace review. Any structure over 200 feet needs FAA clearance, and that process includes a Pentagon review. National-security scrutiny has held up approvals for apparently hundreds of wind projects. Trade groups sued, and a judge stayed the clearance freeze in early August. On Oct. 20 they moved to enforce the stay, saying little had moved and none of the 30 projects awaiting a Pentagon countersignature had left review. They also said developers were being asked to accept new mitigation terms, including a blanket ban on aircraft detection lighting. Experts, including former military personnel, said in a joint declaration that this departs from precedent and lacks a security rationale.

Why it matters: wind that cannot clear airspace review cannot be built, and that holds back new generation while US power demand rises. Our read is that this limits supply and works against lower electricity prices. Heatmap's visible text does not detail the price effects.

Watch next: Politico reported in September, citing two anonymous sources, that Trump told aides he would have the Defense Department clear the backlog to reach a permitting deal, including those 30 projects. On Oct. 22, outlets reported that projects in South Dakota and Maine, including Crowned Ridge, were advancing, per a Pentagon spokesperson, Bob Ditchey. Details on those are incomplete in our material. ACP is a party to the lawsuit, and its account comes from a private member briefing. Congressional negotiators, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, say attacks on wind harm a bipartisan deal.

Source: Heatmap