The Handelot Times
Trump’s renewables standoff
Trump’s Renewables Standoff When former President Donald Trump asserted that his administration “will not approve wind or solar power projects,” it was more than rhetorical posturing.
1. The statement and context
On August 21, 2025, Trump posted on his platform (Truth Social):
“We will not approve wind or farmer destroying Solar.” “The days of stupidity are over in the USA!!!” Much of the media headlined it as a de facto federal ban on new renewables. But several concurrent policy shifts indicate this rhetoric is being translated into administrative action — or inaction.
The US Department of the Interior, via an executive order, now requires all wind and solar projects (especially on or crossing federal lands) to be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
A new order is expanding federal oversight of solar and wind projects, imposing a three-tier review regime over permitting, e nv i ro n m e ntal impact and transmission.
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