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The
numbers reflect the administration's soft-pedaling of renewable
energy development while favoring expansion of oil and gas
drilling, the study by the liberal think tank Center for
American Progress said.
Trump's "energy dominance" agenda aims to reduce regulatory red
tape to boost domestic energy production. Drilling for oil and
gas on federal lands is a key part of that strategy, though the
administration has said it favors an "all of the above" approach
to energy.
The CAP analysis, based on federal data, found the Trump
administration has approved seven solar projects and one wind
project since taking office compared with 15 total wind and
solar projects approved under the previous administration in its
first 3-1/2 years. Report author Kate Kelly blamed the repeal of
the Obama-era Clean Power Plan that would have required
utilities to slash power plant emissions and policies like
tariffs on imports of solar panels for some of the slowdown, but
said they cannot fully explain the decline.
The study also found the administration has failed to hold
competitive lease sales for wind and solar energy development
despite holding dozens for oil and gas leases during the period.
It has also dismantled the Bureau of Land Management's National
Renewable Energy Coordination Office, CAP said, adding that
Interior officials have had 10 times as many meetings with oil
and gas industry representatives as with solar and wind
companies.
Interior Department officials did not respond to a request for
comment.
(Reporting by Nichola Groom)
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