DOI Renewable Energy Development Programs
(Renewable Energy Programs)
Department of the InteriorOffshore wind projects; renewable energy developers on federal lands
Summary
The Department of the Interior's Renewable Energy Development Programs help permit and manage wind and solar projects on federal lands and in federal waters, including offshore wind leasing run by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and solar permitting run by the Bureau of Land Management. The FY2027 budget proposes eliminating all $45 million in funding for these programs, a 100% cut, so the government would stop supporting new offshore wind and public-lands solar development and instead focus federal energy programs on oil, gas, and coal.
Who Is Affected
Offshore wind developers with projects already under construction off the East Coast, including large wind farms slated to create roughly 10,000 jobs, would lose federal program support, as would solar companies seeking to build on the more than 31 million acres of BLM land opened for solar development. Coastal states like Virginia and New Jersey that were counting on new offshore wind power, along with western states hosting utility-scale solar projects, would also see reduced federal engagement on these projects.
What this cut would actually mean
Without this program, federal agencies would stop processing new leases, permits, and environmental reviews for wind and solar projects on public lands and waters, effectively halting new development even where private companies want to build. Projects already underway, some representing billions of dollars of investment and nearly 6 gigawatts of planned offshore wind capacity (enough to power millions of homes), would face longer delays, higher costs, or cancellation, and skilled clean-energy jobs tied to those projects would be at risk.
Sources
- Statement on White House FY2027 budget proposal for public lands — Center for Western Priorities describes the FY2027 proposal to eliminate $45 million in DOI renewable energy programs, including all offshore wind work.
- Trump's budget proposal for Interior seeks to make DC beautiful again — Roll Call reports the administration's justification for eliminating the $45 million Interior renewable energy program funding.
- Trump suspends all large offshore wind farms under construction, threatening thousands of jobs and cheaper energy — CNN reports on the suspension of federal leases for offshore wind projects under construction, noting the risk to thousands of jobs and nearly 6 gigawatts of planned capacity.
- How Trump dismantled a promising energy industry — and what America lost — Canary Media details how the five offshore wind farms underway were expected to generate about 10,000 jobs before federal actions curtailed the industry.
- Solar Energy | Bureau of Land Management — BLM page describing its solar energy permitting program on public lands, including examples of utility-scale solar projects it manages.
- 2024 Solar Programmatic EIS Information Center — Details on the BLM plan making more than 31 million acres of public land in 11 states available for solar development applications.
Administration's Stated Rationale
“Offshore wind and solar programs on federal lands cancelled; focus returns to oil, gas, and coal.”