Climate Clean Energy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House approved legislation Thursday aimed at speeding up permitting re…

Dozens of energy developers, experts and politicians say there were some highs amid a lot of lows in a roller coaster year for clean energy as President Donald Trump worked to boost polluting fuels while stymying wind and solar. Surveyed by The Associated Press, many described 2025 as a turbulent and challenging one for clean energy, though there was progress as projects connected to the electric grid. They said clean energy will have to further ramp up in 2026 and beyond to meet a skyrocketing demand for electricity to power data centers and to lower the cost of Americans’ utility bills. Solar builder and operator Jorge Vargas says it has been a very tough year for clean energy.

The Trump administration is suspending leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction on the East Coast due to what it said were national security risks identified by the Pentagon. The pause is effective immediately and will give the Interior Department, which oversees offshore wind, time to work with the Defense Department and other agencies to assess the possible ways to mitigate any security risks posed by the projects, the administration said. The statement did not detail the national security risks. It is the latest step the administration has taken to hobble offshore wind in its push against renewable energy sources.