U.S. Clean Power Groups Sue DOD Over Delays in Wind Project Permitting

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Written by Paul Wiseman for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Groups are taking aim at the Department of Defense's hindrance of wind power development.

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On-the-Ground Action

A wind energy permitting process that seemingly worked well for 15 years has been scuttled since last summer, said Jason Grumet, chief executive officer of the American Clean Power Association (APCA).

And on May 31, 2026, four clean energy groups filed suit against U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Department of Defense, arguing that the department "has engaged in sweeping efforts to block wind-energy projects through executive orders, permit freezes, sudden reversals of regulatory programs, and various other unprecedented and unlawful agency actions."

Industrial Info Resources data find 675 U.S. wind projects with a total investment value (TIV) of $340 billion.

Aligned Groups

The four groups involved in the lawsuit are: Renewable Northwest, Advanced Power Alliance, Alliance For Clean Energy New York Inc, Clean Grid Alliance, Interwest Energy Alliance, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Maine Renewable Energy Association, RENEW Northeast, and Southern Renewable Energy Association. They filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon.

The Department of Defense did not respond to IIR's request for comment.

A Working Process

Since 2011's Ike Skelton Act that formed the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse (SCH), permitting of onshore wind projects had proceeded speedily and efficiently, for the most part. That process involved wind projects first going to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which forwarded them to the Department of Defense (DOD).

From there the SCH's job has been to evaluate the potential defense-related impacts of new energy installations, including wind. It would then speed the process of mitigating such risks where possible (which was almost always possible) and getting the permits back to the FAA for finalization.

Wind Power Cancel Culture?

However, since August of 2025, that process has effectively ground to a halt, said Grumet, leaving about 160 projects stuck on hold with approximately 60 gigawatts (GW) of potential power generation.

The first time the DOD formally acknowledged such action came in an April letter to developers, stating that it was "reevaluating how it reviews wind projects' national security impacts." It said that wind farms pose an "inherent potential" to adversely impact military radar and aviation operations. Heavy intra-agency and interagency coordination requirements were also blamed.

Grumet countered that this is a "de facto moratorium," and that there has never been any backlog remotely like this one, a systemwide halt in getting permits back to the FAA.

Reasons for the Delays?

In delaying offshore wind projects in December 2025, the Department of the Interior and the DOD had cited national security concerns involving their possible interference in military radar detection. The Pentagon and Department of Defense cited classified reports warning that massive, fast-spinning turbine blades could generate radar clutter, mask military targets and create false targets.

Did This Start in July 2025?

Shortly after inauguration, Trump had announced his intention of speeding permitting for all forms of energy projects. The apparent intent then was to lower energy costs and boost national security.

But in July of 2025, two executive orders started a tidal shift away from wind and solar power specifically. Executive Order (EO) 14315, entitled "Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources" and EO 14156, entitled "Declaring a National Energy Emergency," led to the Department of the Interior (DOI) to change its review processes.

A subsequent memo entitled Departmental Review Procedures for Decisions, Actions, Consultations, and Other Undertakings Related to Wind and Solar Energy Facilities basically announced that the Secretary of the Interior would have to personally review all wind and solar projects. ACPA's Grumet immediately saw this as a stalling tactic, calling it "a bewildering departure from the Administration's promise to bring down energy prices and make America competitive in the race against China for AI [artificial intelligence] and data centers."

Delays Cause Major Problems for Developers

Such delays are costly for developers, which must continue paying to lease land and maintain grid connections as their timeline for generating power and revenue grows longer. The extra wait also puts companies at risk of missing key deadlines for securing federal tax credits, whose deadlines were greatly shortened by 2025's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Congressional Letter Pushes Back

On May 13, 55 congressmen signed a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pointing out that the SCH process has "effectively ceased functioning."

It added, "Developers report that the process has stalled at all stages of the Department's review process, including initial determinations of whether there is a presumed risk, mitigation negotiations for projects determined to present such a risk, execution of mitigation agreements, countersignature by the Assistant Secretary on final agreements, and the issuance and transmittal of those determinations to the FAA."

By the Numbers

• 250+: Number of onshore wind power projects delayed by DOD since August of 2025
• 0: Number of onshore wind power permits issued by DOD since August of 2025

Key Takeaways

• Clean power advocates are accusing the DOD and the Trump Administration of blocking any and all new wind power projects.
• The DOD contends that it is a complicated process--but it was one that had worked well since 2011, including during the first Trump administration.
• In December 2025, offshore wind projects were halted due to concerns about wind turbines creating defense radar clutter and false positive readings.

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