Document Type

Report

Publication Date

9-2026

Abstract

For the first time in nearly 2 decades, the United States is seeing rapid growth in electricity demand, driven by the data center boom as well as expanding electrification. Total electricity use in the United States reached a record high of 4,430 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2025 — almost 3 percent above 2024 levels — and is expected to continue growing at a similar rate through 2050. Meeting this increased demand, while continuing to advance action on climate change, will require a massive ramp up in renewable energy development. Notable progress was made in 2025, with utility-scale solar generation in the United States growing by a record 34 percent, and wind generation by 3 percent. The 2 technologies together accounted for 17 percent of total generation in 2025, another record high, but still well below what is needed to achieve climate goals. This highlights the extent of the challenge ahead: if the United States is to meet increasing electricity demand while continuing to drive down greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy facilities must be developed at faster rates than ever before. But such development faces increasing headwinds.

This report documents legal obstacles and challenges to renewable energy siting at the state- and local-levels in the United States. In particular, the report focuses on: (a) state laws and local ordinances that impede the siting of utility-scale solar, wind, battery storage, and related transmission projects (referred to as “state and local restrictions”); and (b) instances of organized opposition to individual projects (referred to as “contested projects”). The report updates and significantly expands 5 previous editions, which were published annually from 2021 to 2025.

This 6th edition of the report details state and local restrictions and contested projects through December 31, 2025 and finds that at least 888 state and local restrictions blocking renewable energy projects had been adopted and that there were at least 567 projects that faced significant local opposition, across 48 states, by the end of 2025.

Disciplines

Energy and Utilities Law | Environmental Law | Law

Download

Share

COinS