US administration curbs clean energy credits; OBBBA and permitting shifts raise sector risk
The newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act repeals or restricts most major clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act, while an executive order has paused offshore wind development—together creating elevated political risk for renewables developers[7]. Separately, the Interior Department now requires the Secretary’s personal sign-off for all wind and solar permits and has eliminated longstanding right-of-way and capacity fee discounts, signaling a tougher federal permitting landscape for renewables[4].
New DOE pilot seeks to accelerate advanced nuclear and bolster domestic fuel supply
DOE launched a pilot program to fast-track advanced reactor development and strengthen US nuclear fuel supply chains, issuing a Request for Applications with initial submissions due August 15, 2025[4]. The effort complements congressional moves to redirect unobligated infrastructure funds toward the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, signaling continued federal emphasis on firm, zero-carbon power[4].
Study finds NEPA reviews for utility-scale renewables are faster than many assume
A new Resources for the Future analysis of NEPA timelines (2009–2023) reports many utility-scale solar and wind projects completed the process within one to two years, faster than average across federal actions, and that NEPA-covered projects represent only a small share of total capacity built in that period[6]. The findings suggest broader siting, interconnection, and market factors—rather than NEPA alone—are often the binding constraints for renewable buildout[6].
California reports two-thirds clean energy share in 2023 as storage soars past 15 GW
California says it was powered by roughly two-thirds clean energy in 2023, with renewables-eligible sources at 43% of the mix, large hydro at 12%, and nuclear at 12%; since 2019 the state has added about 25,000 MW of new resources, led by solar and batteries[1]. The state’s battery fleet now exceeds 15,000 MW, regularly shifting daytime solar to cover evening peaks and underscoring the growing role of storage in grid reliability