Nearly 60 gigawatts of American renewable energy projects have been delayed, according to a trade association

Clean Energy Projects in the U.S. Face Major Delays Amid Rising Power Demand

A series of policy changes under the Trump administration have slowed the expansion of solar and wind energy, including postponements in project approvals on federal land. (David Paul Morris / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

According to a recent industry study, nearly 59 gigawatts of clean energy initiatives across the United States are currently stalled, even as the need for electricity—driven by the rapid growth of AI data centers—continues to climb.

The American Clean Power Association reports that developers are experiencing average setbacks of 19 months. These delays are attributed to lengthy grid connection processes, supply chain issues, and regulatory obstacles, as detailed in their quarterly market report.

These project bottlenecks persist despite increasing strain on the nation’s power grids, which are being pushed by both energy-intensive data centers and a surge in manufacturing. The Trump administration’s approach has further hindered progress by slowing down the approval process for renewable energy projects on public lands.

The clean energy capacity currently on hold is comparable to the output of 59 conventional nuclear reactors—enough to supply electricity to over 44 million homes at once.

“Uncertainty in current policies is starting to undermine investor trust and disrupt project schedules just as demand is reaching new heights,” said JC Sandberg, Chief Policy Officer at the American Clean Power Association.

Despite these obstacles, developers succeeded in bringing more than 50 gigawatts of wind, solar, and battery storage online in 2025, accounting for over 90% of all new power generation in the country that year. However, the report also notes that clean power purchase agreements dropped by 36% in 2025 compared to 2024, suggesting that the pace of clean energy expansion in the U.S. could slow between 2028 and 2030.

Reporting by Chediak for Bloomberg.