Abigail Ross Hopper

Stories

Trump’s permitting crackdown strands U.S. wind and solar boom

Leading industry pushback against the renewable permitting freeze

Trump promised to "unleash American energy." A federal judge disagreed: in April 2026, Chief Judge Denise Casper blocked five Interior Department policies that had frozen wind and solar permits nationwide, including Secretary Doug Burgum's rule requiring his personal sign-off on every renewable decision.

Updated Aug 8

The death of residential solar tax credits

Rule Changes

Departed SEIA January 30, 2026; successor search underway

The 30% federal residential solar tax credit died at midnight on December 31, 2025. For twenty years, Section 25D let homeowners slash $9,000 off a typical $30,000 solar installation.

Updated May 19

Notable Quotes

“It’s extremely detrimental to our industry because it just upsets the ability to deliver projects.”

from Trump’s permitting crackdown strands U.S. wind and solar boom · Updated Aug 8

"The bill being sent to the President's desk today is a significant step backwards for our nation's energy economy at a time when we can least afford it." — Statement on One Big Beautiful Bill passage, May 2025

from The death of residential solar tax credits · Updated May 19

"This legislation is willfully ignorant of the fact that deploying solar and storage is the only way the U.S. power grid can meet the demand of American consumers, businesses, and innovation." — On House passage of reconciliation bill

from The death of residential solar tax credits · Updated May 19

"Now is the time for my next chapter." — Open letter to solar industry announcing departure, October 2025

from The death of residential solar tax credits · Updated May 19