Permitting Hurdles: The Unseen Roadblock to Green Energy

How a 17-year wait for a permit is stalling the green energy revolution and what it means for the fight against climate change

The SunZia Wind project, set to be the largest wind farm in the Western hemisphere, has finally received a permit to start construction – a full 17 years after it was first greenlit. This is not an isolated case. At the end of 2022, over 10,000 energy projects, predominantly wind and solar, were awaiting permission to connect to electric grids. This article will delve into the complexities of the energy permitting process, its implications for the green energy revolution, and the urgent need for reform.

The SunZia project, once completed, will sprawl across three New Mexico counties and supply power to over three million households in Arizona and California. However, the journey to this point has been fraught with delays and obstacles, largely due to the local, state, and federal permitting systems. This is a critical issue as the U.S. strives to meet its ambitious climate goals.

As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition to renewable energy, the lengthy permitting process in the U.S. is becoming a significant roadblock. The SunZia project, for instance, was initially expected to receive its permits in about five years. However, due to a myriad of local, state, and federal regulations, the process took three times longer. This has serious implications for the country’s efforts to combat climate change.

Despite the clear benefits of renewable energy projects, they often face strong opposition at the local level. Residents may resist giving up their land for transmission lines or object to the aesthetic impact of wind farms. At the state level, there are often disputes over right of way permits for transmission lines. The federal permitting process is also lengthy, with each permit taking years or even a decade to get approved.

These delays have significant consequences. Rising material costs can render a project unviable, land options can expire, and customers can lose interest. In 2022, large scale solar, wind, and battery installations in the U.S. fell by 16%. This is a worrying trend given the urgent need to transition to renewable energy.

There is a growing recognition of the need for permitting reform. The landmark Climate Bill signed by President Biden last year provides $370 billion in subsidies to make low carbon energy technologies cheaper than fossil fuels. However, to keep up with this historic investment, the permitting process will need to speed up. The U.S.’s climate goals, which include becoming Net Zero by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to half of 2005 levels, will not be possible without significant reform.

There is no silver bullet solution to this problem. Policy experts argue that it will require expansive reform at the local, state, and federal levels. However, the stakes are high. The future of the green energy revolution, and our ability to combat climate change, may well depend on it.

In conclusion, the SunZia Wind project serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the green energy revolution. The lengthy permitting process is a significant roadblock that must be addressed if we are to meet our climate goals. As we look to the future, it is clear that permitting reform must be a priority.

As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition to renewable energy, the story of SunZia serves as a stark reminder of the challenges we face. The future of the green energy revolution, and our ability to combat climate change, may well depend on our ability to navigate these challenges.