Latest news with #SenateEnvironmentandEnergyCommittee
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate panel backs bills targeting New Jersey data centers
A data center underconstruction in Utah. Utility and interconnection officials have cited power-hungry data centers as a major cause of growing demand for electricity. (Photo by) A Senate panel approved another series of bills meant to reduce the impact of electricity prices that are set to soar on June 1. The bills, which cleared the Senate Environment and Energy Committee in divided votes Thursday, would raise data centers' share of electricity costs, boost construction of energy storage, and create an automatic approval process for residential solar projects, among other things. Environmental groups hailed the data center legislation, which would create a separate rate-setting process within the Board of Public Utilities for data centers with maximum monthly demands of at least 100 megawatts, forcing them to pay for increases in energy costs as a result of data center load. 'This bill would not only provide an incentive for data centers to drive consumption down, but it would also protect ratepayers from shouldering the unfair burden of the cost,' said Jay Weisbond, a policy assistant for the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. It would also require rates for data centers to include cost recoveries for transmission or distribution infrastructure needed for their operation. The separate rate-setting process contemplated in the bill would take effect one year after its passage. Utility and interconnection officials have cited power-hungry data centers as a major cause of the growing demand for electricity. Electricity prices are spiking as demand that had been largely level for decades surges, and New Jersey's in-state generation has faced stumbles as offshore wind projects set to deliver thousands of megawatts fail or are blocked by federal regulatory authorities. Republicans have blamed Gov. Phil Murphy's wind-heavy renewable energy agenda and the shuttering of existing fossil plants for auction-driven price spikes set to arrive June 1, while Democrats have sought to lay the increases at the feat of PJM Interconnection, the grid operator for New Jersey and 12 other states. Assembly Democrats are particularly anxious about rising utility bills, as all 80 Assembly seats are on the ballot this year (Democrats hold a majority in the chamber). Separate legislation would require quarterly reporting on data centers' energy and water usage. Business groups opposed both bills, warning they would push data centers into other states, including those on the same grid as New Jersey, 'We can't entice data centers to locate in New Jersey if we're going to continually be putting roadblocks in the way or making it more expensive or problematic to develop here in New Jersey,' said Ray Cantor, deputy chief government affairs officer for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association. Murphy and legislators have sought to encourage AI development in New Jersey, including through tax credits, hailing it in July 2024 as a 'transformative industry that will change lives and grow our economy.' The state would be better served by boosting electricity supply than by targeting large energy users, Cantor said, adding that manufacturing plants and even hospitals could run similar loads. Though some suggested expansions, witnesses were broadly supportive of a bill requiring the Board of Public Utilities to procure and incent large-scale energy storage projects, which store energy produced at times of low demand to ease strains on production when demand is high. Storage projects could start operating in the short term and would more quickly affect prices than other types of generation, they said. 'It doesn't have to wait in line for PJM Interconnection, which we know takes years. It can be interconnected locally. It can be permitted locally, so it's the fastest way to build,' said Lyle Rawlings, CEO of Advanced Solar Projects Inc. 'These projects, we're not talking about 2029 or 2030, we're talking about 2026 that these can be brought online.' Separate legislation would require the Department of Community Affairs to create an online permitting platform to algorithmically approve residential solar projects. Municipalities could use the platform or set up their own automated solar approval system. Supporters saw it as another method of quickly standing up new energy supply. 'Local solar can be a critical tool in meeting our energy needs, but only if we need it. While large-scale solar projects are important, they are often facing multi-year delays in the PJM interconnection queue. Local solar, on the other hand, can be rapidly deployed,' said Elowyn Corby, mid-Atlantic regional director of the Vote Solar Action Fund. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ lawmakers advance legislation requiring new AI data centers to use clean energy
Though many New Jersey officials, especially Gov. Phil Murphy, are set on making the Garden State a leader in artificial intelligence development, some advocates and lawmakers have concerns about the energy needed to power that endeavor. A bill that cleared the state Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Monday afternoon would require AI data centers to source their energy demands with new, clean energy options and submit an energy usage plan to the Board of Public Utilities, or BPU. The legislation would not take effect until after at least half of the 12 other states in the PJM region — including Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, plus Washington, D.C. — adopt similar requirements. PJM is the largest power grid distributor in North America. 'The point of this bill is to say, 'Yeah, we would love to have AI data centers in New Jersey, but don't put your cost of being here on our ratepayers. You should bring your own electric supply with you,'' said state Sen. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, who chairs the Environment and Energy Committee. Nearly an hour of testimony on the bill included arguments from advocates both for and against it. Taylor McFarland of the Sierra Club thanked the committee leadership for taking up this issue because the 'rapid demand for data centers in New Jersey will lead to a massive energy demand straining the existing grid.' But Michael Egenton of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce said the state should be encouraging new industry sectors to open operations instead of 'placing hurdles, impediments, mandates and fines,' because that will ultimately lead to their opening in other regions. Earlier: NJ wants to be an artificial intelligence leader. Do we have the energy supply? Earlier this month, the state Senate Legislative Oversight Committee held a three hour meeting to discuss the needs of the state's energy infrastructure and where AI fit into that. Panelists from utility companies, distributors and others in the energy and artificial intelligence industries noted that the supply now is not able to meet the demand in New Jersey — which consumes more energy than the state generates — and that gap is expected to grow. State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, that committee's chair, put the energy usage of data centers into perspective by saying they already use 2% of the energy globally. "The environmental impact of AI is remarkable," he said. "Training a single large language model like OpenAI's ChatGPT consumes approximately 1,300 megawatt hours of electricity, the same amount used by 130 U.S. homes in a year." Zwicker went on to say New Jersey's goal should be to "foster AI, not resist it," and to learn what can be done. Last year, Murphy called for what he dubbed an "AI moonshot" — an effort to advance AI use and opportunities to put New Jersey at the forefront of new economic developments. Since that announcement, he has touted the state's partnership with Princeton University to create an AI innovation hub, and last summer he signed a law that will set aside tax breaks for businesses that collect more than half their revenue from artificial intelligence or use more than half their staff for that purpose. Businesses would be eligible for incentives worth up to $250 million. Industry leaders have already taken steps to secure the energy needed to support their operations. Microsoft announced that it had exclusively acquired all of the energy created at the newly reopened Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania for its data centers. During Murphy's two terms, or since 2017, five power generation plants have shut down in New Jersey: four coal plants and the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. In addition, Murphy's plans for offshore wind have fallen apart as the state has ended four solicitations for projects, with Orsted abandoning two projects and most of the bidders on the others walking away, particularly in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order to freeze the issuance of new offshore wind permits. One offshore wind project remains in New Jersey: Atlantic Shores South, which has received all its federal approvals and is set to generate 2,800 megawatts as early as 2028. Natural gas and nuclear energy provided 90% of the state's total energy generation from 2011 to 2023. Residents are split on how the state produces energy overall, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released earlier this month. About a third of respondents each supported nuclear power or natural gas. Offshore wind was also popular when it was suggested to the poll's respondents. Other options, such as importing electricity from other states or not making investments in technology that would require more electricity, were unpopular. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@ This article originally appeared on NJ bill to require AI data centers to use clean energy
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ lawmakers advance legislation requiring new AI data centers to use clean energy
Though many New Jersey officials, especially Gov. Phil Murphy, are set on making the Garden State a leader in artificial intelligence development, some advocates and lawmakers have concerns about the energy needed to power that endeavor. A bill that cleared the state Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Monday afternoon would require AI data centers to source their energy demands with new, clean energy options and submit an energy usage plan to the Board of Public Utilities, or BPU. The legislation would not take effect until after at least half of the 12 other states in the PJM region — including Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, plus Washington, D.C. — adopt similar requirements. PJM is the largest power grid distributor in North America. 'The point of this bill is to say, 'Yeah, we would love to have AI data centers in New Jersey, but don't put your cost of being here on our ratepayers. You should bring your own electric supply with you,'' said state Sen. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, who chairs the Environment and Energy Committee. Nearly an hour of testimony on the bill included arguments from advocates both for and against it. Taylor McFarland of the Sierra Club thanked the committee leadership for taking up this issue because the 'rapid demand for data centers in New Jersey will lead to a massive energy demand straining the existing grid.' But Michael Egenton of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce said the state should be encouraging new industry sectors to open operations instead of 'placing hurdles, impediments, mandates and fines,' because that will ultimately lead to their opening in other regions. Earlier: NJ wants to be an artificial intelligence leader. Do we have the energy supply? Earlier this month, the state Senate Legislative Oversight Committee held a three hour meeting to discuss the needs of the state's energy infrastructure and where AI fit into that. Panelists from utility companies, distributors and others in the energy and artificial intelligence industries noted that the supply now is not able to meet the demand in New Jersey — which consumes more energy than the state generates — and that gap is expected to grow. State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, that committee's chair, put the energy usage of data centers into perspective by saying they already use 2% of the energy globally. "The environmental impact of AI is remarkable," he said. "Training a single large language model like OpenAI's ChatGPT consumes approximately 1,300 megawatt hours of electricity, the same amount used by 130 U.S. homes in a year." Zwicker went on to say New Jersey's goal should be to "foster AI, not resist it," and to learn what can be done. Last year, Murphy called for what he dubbed an "AI moonshot" — an effort to advance AI use and opportunities to put New Jersey at the forefront of new economic developments. Since that announcement, he has touted the state's partnership with Princeton University to create an AI innovation hub, and last summer he signed a law that will set aside tax breaks for businesses that collect more than half their revenue from artificial intelligence or use more than half their staff for that purpose. Businesses would be eligible for incentives worth up to $250 million. Industry leaders have already taken steps to secure the energy needed to support their operations. Microsoft announced that it had exclusively acquired all of the energy created at the newly reopened Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania for its data centers. During Murphy's two terms, or since 2017, five power generation plants have shut down in New Jersey: four coal plants and the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. In addition, Murphy's plans for offshore wind have fallen apart as the state has ended four solicitations for projects, with Orsted abandoning two projects and most of the bidders on the others walking away, particularly in the wake of President Donald Trump's executive order to freeze the issuance of new offshore wind permits. One offshore wind project remains in New Jersey: Atlantic Shores South, which has received all its federal approvals and is set to generate 2,800 megawatts as early as 2028. Natural gas and nuclear energy provided 90% of the state's total energy generation from 2011 to 2023. Residents are split on how the state produces energy overall, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released earlier this month. About a third of respondents each supported nuclear power or natural gas. Offshore wind was also popular when it was suggested to the poll's respondents. Other options, such as importing electricity from other states or not making investments in technology that would require more electricity, were unpopular. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@ This article originally appeared on NJ bill to require AI data centers to use clean energy
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue states hope clean energy plans withstand collision with Trump
A solar array. (Robert Zullo/ States Newsroom) For states that are pursuing plans to build more wind and solar projects, the federal government has suddenly shifted from a powerful ally to a formidable opponent. State leaders are still scrambling to make sense of President Donald Trump's flurry of executive orders, funding freezes, agency directives and verbal threats about clean energy. It's as if the teammate who had passed them the ball is now trying to block their shot. Trump has slammed the brakes on offshore wind development, which relies on access to federal waters. He's halted permitting for some renewable energy projects. He's frozen grants and loans supporting everything from rooftop solar panels to household weatherization assistance. And he's created uncertainty around the tax credits that are perhaps the most significant driver of clean energy development. 'Yeah, we're in trouble,' said New Jersey state Sen. Bob Smith, a Democrat who chairs his state's Senate Environment and Energy Committee. 'We're about to get whipsawed pretty badly. Are [New Jersey's] electrical upgrades at risk because of Trump? Absolutely.' Trump has long opposed wind power development and has repeatedly called climate change a 'hoax.' He's spread falsehoods that wind farms cause cancer and are more expensive than other forms of power. He's focused heavily on promoting fossil fuel production. His orders have been a sharp reversal of priorities from former President Joe Biden, who made clean energy investments a signature issue. 'We're not going to do the wind thing,' Trump said during a rally for supporters shortly after he was sworn in on Jan. 20. Officials who want to lower greenhouse gas emissions argue that many of Trump's actions are unlawful. They expect courts to overrule his attempts to hold back funding approved by Congress under Biden. But they fear the greater threat is that the federal volatility will push clean energy developers and financiers to stop backing projects. 'These actions are sowing a lot of chaos,' said Patrick Drupp, director of climate policy with the Sierra Club, a national environmental advocacy group. 'The longer that goes on, the more likely projects go away. If developers start pulling back from large projects, those are big parts of meeting [clean energy] goals for a lot of these states.' Leaders in blue states say they're committed to overcoming Trump's opposition. They're confident that simple market dynamics will make it hard to hold back development. The country's energy needs are growing quickly, and wind and solar are among the cheapest sources of electricity. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro last month announced his 'lightning plan' to reduce carbon emissions and promote innovation in nuclear and renewable energy. Meanwhile, more than a dozen U.S. House Republicans have called to preserve the clean energy tax credits, citing the jobs and revenue created in their districts. 'Are we confused by what we're hearing out of D.C.? Yes,' said Minnesota state Sen. Nick Frentz, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee and authored the state's clean electricity law. 'But I'm fairly confident that affordability and reliability will continue to drive clean energy into Minnesota's energy mix.' The most clear-cut energy casualty of Trump's second term is the development of offshore wind. Many Atlantic states have been counting on offshore turbines to provide much of their electricity, an effort that had strong federal support when Biden was in the White House. But now those federal waters have a new landlord. Trump's executive order put an immediate halt to offshore wind leases, which are overseen by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The order also threatens to undo existing leases, encouraging reviews of projects that face litigation. 'The Trump Administration is unlikely to vigorously defend offshore wind project permits issued by the Biden Administration,' Timothy Fox, managing director at ClearView Energy Partners LLC, an independent research firm, wrote in an email. '[The order] could encourage offshore wind foes to file additional legal challenges.' A handful of previously approved projects are still moving forward, including a Virginia wind farm that's under construction. But the many more pending projects face dim prospects under Trump. Already, New Jersey — which has anchored its climate plans on offshore wind — is pulling back state financial support for projects. Federal hostility could delay offshore wind projects, derailing state climate goals 'It's a HUGE roadblock, and put huge in capital letters,' Smith, the New Jersey lawmaker, said in an interview. 'It's a real, real problem for the immediate future and maybe even the long-term future.' Smith said state leaders may have to look at other options to bolster their energy plans, such as small modular nuclear reactors. But he said that technology is 10 to 15 years away. Officials who support clean energy say states can still work to improve their ports and transmission infrastructure, to give the offshore industry a strong platform to relaunch under a future administration. But policymakers and developers may now be unwilling to invest in a sector that can be upended after any election. 'It doesn't look great,' said Alissa Weinman, ocean program manager with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, a collaborative nonpartisan forum for state lawmakers. 'We've seen big developers pivot towards projects in other countries. That volatility is a real concern, especially because offshore wind [in the U.S.] is still in its nascent stages.' Trump's order also targeted onshore wind, putting a similar halt to turbine leases on federal lands. While the vast majority of onshore wind development is on private lands, even those projects may face threats from the administration. In response to another Trump order focused on fossil fuel development, for example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers froze pending permits last week for 168 renewable energy projects on private lands. The agency says it has since lifted the pause, but not for wind power projects, The New York Times reported. Climate advocates note that many wind projects require permits from the Federal Aviation Administration, another potential avenue for Trump to block development. 'If it becomes the policy to just deny all of those permits, that would be a problem for the entire industry, regardless of the type of land it's on,' said Ava Gallo, climate and energy program manager with the environmental lawmakers group. 'That's a worst-case but very possible scenario. If wind takes that big of a hit, it throws [states' clean energy targets] into jeopardy.' Clean energy advocates note the bipartisan support for wind energy and red states' reliance on it. 'Wind energy is incredibly popular and a bipartisan thing that's brought huge amounts of money to a lot of red states,' said Drupp, with the Sierra Club. Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas lead the nation in wind power generation. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has boasted about his state's nation-leading wind production, while also claiming Texas needs to invest heavily in 'reliable' gas-fired plants to stabilize the grid. State leaders say it's still unclear whether Trump's aim is to uphold a blanket federal ban on permits for wind and solar projects. Such a move, they say, would be a clear overstep of his authority. 'We're going to challenge every illegal and out-of-order action by this administration and continue to work towards our goals,' said New York state Sen. Kevin Parker, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications. 'We're trying to identify the things we can do despite federal interference, or things that we can do on our own.' Trump has also moved to freeze funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the climate law passed under Biden that created major grants, loans and tax credits for clean energy. The investments have been a significant catalyst for renewable development, and a large portion of the wind and solar projects in the works are supported by its programs. Industry leaders say the law is expected to produce 550 gigawatts of wind, solar and battery storage by 2030 — more than doubling the nation's current clean energy supply. Red and blue states have big climate plans. The election could upend them. Climate advocates say Trump's moves overstep his authority and that only Congress can revoke funding it has previously approved. They note that the federal government has already issued contracts for many of the grants blocked by Trump. Judges have issued orders halting Trump's attempt to pause federal spending; a federal judge ruled this week that agencies have violated his previous order by failing to restore access to the funds. 'They [Trump officials] are creating a lot of confusion, likely on purpose,' said Rachel Jacobson, lead researcher of state climate policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank. So far, Trump has not yet explicitly targeted the law's clean energy tax credits for developers and consumers, which have proven popular in both red and blue states. Analysts say those credits have been a key driver in making renewable projects attractive for financiers and developers. However, climate advocates say Trump could revise regulations from the Internal Revenue Service to limit access to the credits, or slash agency staff to delay credit approvals. Some fear he could work with Republican allies in Congress to repeal the tax credits altogether. 'Even the threat of tax credit repeal will cool the market and make it harder for project financing,' Jacobson said. State leaders say they're still working to understand the extent of Trump's orders and how their plans will be affected. But they point to the investments they've made at the state level and the rapid growth of renewables as an affordable electricity source. '[Federal funding] would have been immensely helpful, but our program was always built to stand alone,' said Parker, the New York lawmaker. 'Whatever roadblocks the federal government tries to put in our way, we'll try to legally deconstruct them, drive around them or drive on roads that don't have roadblocks.' Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue states hope their clean energy plans withstand collision with Trump
Wind turbines generate electricity at the Block Island Wind Farm near Block Island, R.I. President Donald Trump has blocked leasing for pending offshore wind projects, a serious roadblock for many states' plan to transition to clean energy. () For states that are pursuing plans to build more wind and solar projects, the federal government has suddenly shifted from a powerful ally to a formidable opponent. State leaders are still scrambling to make sense of President Donald Trump's flurry of executive orders, funding freezes, agency directives and verbal threats about clean energy. It's as if the teammate who had passed them the ball is now trying to block their shot. Trump has slammed the brakes on offshore wind development, which relies on access to federal waters. He's halted permitting for some renewable energy projects. He's frozen grants and loans supporting everything from rooftop solar panels to household weatherization assistance. And he's created uncertainty around the tax credits that are perhaps the most significant driver of clean energy development. 'Yeah, we're in trouble,' said New Jersey state Sen. Bob Smith, a Democrat who chairs his state's Senate Environment and Energy Committee. 'We're about to get whipsawed pretty badly. Are [New Jersey's] electrical upgrades at risk because of Trump? Absolutely.' Trump has long opposed wind power development and has repeatedly called climate change a 'hoax.' He's spread falsehoods that wind farms cause cancer and are more expensive than other forms of power. He's focused heavily on promoting fossil fuel production. His orders have been a sharp reversal of priorities from former President Joe Biden, who made clean energy investments a signature issue. 'We're not going to do the wind thing,' Trump said during a rally for supporters shortly after he was sworn in on Jan. 20. Officials who want to lower greenhouse gas emissions argue that many of Trump's actions are unlawful. They expect courts to overrule his attempts to hold back funding approved by Congress under Biden. But they fear the greater threat is that the federal volatility will push clean energy developers and financiers to stop backing projects. Yeah, we're in trouble. We're about to get whipsawed pretty badly. – New Jersey Democratic state Sen. Bob Smith 'These actions are sowing a lot of chaos,' said Patrick Drupp, director of climate policy with the Sierra Club, a national environmental advocacy group. 'The longer that goes on, the more likely projects go away. If developers start pulling back from large projects, those are big parts of meeting [clean energy] goals for a lot of these states.' Leaders in blue states say they're committed to overcoming Trump's opposition. They're confident that simple market dynamics will make it hard to hold back development. The country's energy needs are growing quickly, and wind and solar are among the cheapest sources of electricity. Meanwhile, more than a dozen U.S. House Republicans have called to preserve the clean energy tax credits, citing the jobs and revenue created in their districts. 'Are we confused by what we're hearing out of D.C.? Yes,' said Minnesota state Sen. Nick Frentz, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Committee and authored the state's clean electricity law. 'But I'm fairly confident that affordability and reliability will continue to drive clean energy into Minnesota's energy mix.' The most clear-cut energy casualty of Trump's second term is the development of offshore wind. Many Atlantic states have been counting on offshore turbines to provide much of their electricity, an effort that had strong federal support when Biden was in the White House. But now those federal waters have a new landlord. Trump's executive order put an immediate halt to offshore wind leases, which are overseen by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The order also threatens to undo existing leases, encouraging reviews of projects that face litigation. 'The Trump Administration is unlikely to vigorously defend offshore wind project permits issued by the Biden Administration,' Timothy Fox, managing director at ClearView Energy Partners LLC, an independent research firm, wrote in an email. '[The order] could encourage offshore wind foes to file additional legal challenges.' A handful of previously approved projects are still moving forward, including a Virginia wind farm that's under construction. But the many more pending projects face dim prospects under Trump. Already, New Jersey — which has anchored its climate plans on offshore wind — is pulling back state financial support for projects. Federal hostility could delay offshore wind projects, derailing state climate goals 'It's a HUGE roadblock, and put huge in capital letters,' Smith, the New Jersey lawmaker, said in an interview. 'It's a real, real problem for the immediate future and maybe even the long-term future.' Smith said state leaders may have to look at other options to bolster their energy plans, such as small modular nuclear reactors. But he said that technology is 10 to 15 years away. Officials who support clean energy say states can still work to improve their ports and transmission infrastructure, to give the offshore industry a strong platform to relaunch under a future administration. But policymakers and developers may now be unwilling to invest in a sector that can be upended after any election. 'It doesn't look great,' said Alissa Weinman, ocean program manager with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, a collaborative nonpartisan forum for state lawmakers. 'We've seen big developers pivot towards projects in other countries. That volatility is a real concern, especially because offshore wind [in the U.S.] is still in its nascent stages.' Trump's order also targeted onshore wind, putting a similar halt to turbine leases on federal lands. While the vast majority of onshore wind development is on private lands, even those projects may face threats from the administration. In response to another Trump order focused on fossil fuel development, for example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers froze pending permits last week for 168 renewable energy projects on private lands. The agency says it has since lifted the pause, but not for wind power projects, The New York Times reported. Climate advocates note that many wind projects require permits from the Federal Aviation Administration, another potential avenue for Trump to block development. 'If it becomes the policy to just deny all of those permits, that would be a problem for the entire industry, regardless of the type of land it's on,' said Ava Gallo, climate and energy program manager with the environmental lawmakers group. 'That's a worst-case but very possible scenario. If wind takes that big of a hit, it throws [states' clean energy targets] into jeopardy.' Clean energy advocates note the bipartisan support for wind energy and red states' reliance on it. 'Wind energy is incredibly popular and a bipartisan thing that's brought huge amounts of money to a lot of red states,' said Drupp, with the Sierra Club. Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas lead the nation in wind power generation. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has boasted about his state's nation-leading wind production, while also claiming Texas needs to invest heavily in 'reliable' gas-fired plants to stabilize the grid. State leaders say it's still unclear whether Trump's aim is to uphold a blanket federal ban on permits for wind and solar projects. Such a move, they say, would be a clear overstep of his authority. 'We're going to challenge every illegal and out-of-order action by this administration and continue to work towards our goals,' said New York state Sen. Kevin Parker, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications. 'We're trying to identify the things we can do despite federal interference, or things that we can do on our own.' Trump has also moved to freeze funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the climate law passed under Biden that created major grants, loans and tax credits for clean energy. The investments have been a significant catalyst for renewable development, and a large portion of the wind and solar projects in the works are supported by its programs. Industry leaders say the law is expected to produce 550 gigawatts of wind, solar and battery storage by 2030 — more than doubling the nation's current clean energy supply. Red and blue states have big climate plans. The election could upend them. Climate advocates say Trump's moves overstep his authority and that only Congress can revoke funding it has previously approved. They note that the federal government has already issued contracts for many of the grants blocked by Trump. Judges have issued orders halting Trump's attempt to pause federal spending; a federal judge ruled this week that agencies have violated his previous order by failing to restore access to the funds. 'They [Trump officials] are creating a lot of confusion, likely on purpose,' said Rachel Jacobson, lead researcher of state climate policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank. So far, Trump has not yet explicitly targeted the law's clean energy tax credits for developers and consumers, which have proven popular in both red and blue states. Analysts say those credits have been a key driver in making renewable projects attractive for financiers and developers. However, climate advocates say Trump could revise regulations from the Internal Revenue Service to limit access to the credits, or slash agency staff to delay credit approvals. Some fear he could work with Republican allies in Congress to repeal the tax credits altogether. 'Even the threat of tax credit repeal will cool the market and make it harder for project financing,' Jacobson said. State leaders say they're still working to understand the extent of Trump's orders and how their plans will be affected. But they point to the investments they've made at the state level and the rapid growth of renewables as an affordable electricity source. '[Federal funding] would have been immensely helpful, but our program was always built to stand alone,' said Parker, the New York lawmaker. 'Whatever roadblocks the federal government tries to put in our way, we'll try to legally deconstruct them, drive around them or drive on roads that don't have roadblocks.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
