To transform the country’s energy systems, companies across the United States need to build—a lot. For instance, to realize a goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, the United States will need to more than double grid capacity. McKinsey’s Global Energy Perspective 2023 expects power demand in North and Central America to grow by 5,600 terawatt-hours by 2050—particularly because of investments in clean technologies such as green hydrogen and electric transportation—necessitating major investments in power generation, transmission, and distribution.
Despite this anticipated need to build out infrastructure, clean-energy projects across the country have faced delays caused by a variety of challenges. Permitting, for example, can be a bottleneck for such projects. If the United States is to achieve its clean-energy goals, states, localities, and the federal government will have to work—and permit—faster.
While the federal government plays a significant role in the review of most clean-energy projects, states are also important actors in building clean-energy infrastructure. This article highlights ways in which state governments are working to accelerate permitting—particularly for clean-energy projects—without compromising the benefits of permitting practices, policies, and rules.
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