The Trump administration announced steps to dramatically slash the typically yearslong permitting process to less than a month for nearly all energy and mining projects on federal lands, except for solar and wind power.

The Department of the Interior unveiled new emergency permitting procedures Wednesday, offering more relief for the fossil fuel industry and a select few clean energy projects. 

Recommended Stories

• DC one of many cities expecting major energy bill increase
• Democratic appointee steps down as energy regulator at Trump's request
• Energy Department targets Maine’s offshore wind as governor fights Trump on transgender athletes

The department said the new procedures are a direct response to President Donald Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency on his first day in office. 

The measures were designed to expedite the reviewing and approval process for energy and mining projects needing leasing, siting, production, transportation, refining, generation, or exploration permits. The process is intended to be completed in 28 days at the most. 

“The United States cannot afford to wait. President Trump has made it clear that our energy security is national security, and these emergency procedures reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting both,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement. 

“We are cutting through unnecessary delays to fast-track the development of American energy and critical minerals — resources that are essential to our economy, our military readiness, and our global competitiveness,” he continued. “By reducing a multiyear permitting process down to just 28 days, the department will lead with urgency, resolve, and a clear focus on strengthening the nation’s energy independence.” 

Burgum said the department also plans to use its emergency authority under existing regulations for the National Environmental Policy, Endangered Species, and National Historic Preservation acts to speed up reviews. 

Since 1970, NEPA has required federal agencies to study the environmental effects of projects such as new transmission lines, highways, or pipelines that require federal permits. The environmental assessment process typically takes one to two years, depending on the project. The Interior Department plans to cut that to 14 to 28 days by adopting an alternate Environmental Policy Act compliance process.

In its announcement, the Interior Department issued a list of the different energy sources that can receive these fast-track permits. 

The list includes projects related to crude oil, natural gas, lease condensates, natural gas liquids, refined petroleum products, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal energy, kinetic hydropower, and critical minerals.

Renewables such as solar and wind power were notably absent from the list of energy sources that will receive the expedited approvals.

Trump has expressed disdain for the renewable energy industry, but solar power has dominated domestic energy growth in recent years. In 2024, it was the largest source of new energy capacity (around 50 gigawatts) added to the national grid.

Project developers and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have long called for a significant overhaul of the permitting process, saying existing regulations have made it too complicated and costly to build. Congress is currently weighing possible reforms through legislation.

Several industry groups praised the Trump administration for the new emergency procedures announced Wednesday, noting they will help the United States go toe-to-toe with China in the critical minerals industry. 

“The U.S. has the second longest timeline in the world to bring mines online, 29 years, which has not only undercut American mining competitiveness but driven our alarming mineral import reliance,” Rich Nolan, National Mining Association president and CEO, said in a statement. “With this streamlined process, we can better compete with China, advance responsible projects, feed our supply chains with responsibly sourced materials, and reliably meet the material and energy demands of modern life.”

However, an environmental group said the overhaul goes too far and exploits emergency powers.

DEMOCRATIC APPOINTEE STEPS DOWN AS ENERGY REGULATOR AT TRUMP’S REQUEST

Brett Hartl, the government affairs director for the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity, told the New York Times that the emergency measures curtail “all meaningful public processes.” 

“This is manifestly illegal if for no other reason than this is all a fake emergency,” Hartl said. “We’ll be in court, and we will challenge it.”