Local Renewable Energy Restrictions Surge 22% Across U.S. Counties, Threatening Just Energy Transition

A new analysis by the Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) documents a striking acceleration of local ordinances that restrict renewable-energy development across the continental United States. Between the end of 2023 and early 2026, the number of counties with wind- or solar-limiting rules jumped from 797 to 975—an increase of 22.3%. The findings underscore the widening gap between federal climate ambitions and on-the-ground siting realities, complicating efforts to achieve an equitable, or “just,” transition away from fossil fuels.

Understanding the Research

CPR’s latest report updates the organization’s “Communities Left Behind” series, which tracks county-level renewable-energy ordinances in the Lower 48 states. Researchers compiled ordinance text, zoning codes, and permit requirements for every county, then scored each locality on its Risk of Missing Out (ROMO) index. Higher ROMO scores indicate more stringent rules—such as large setback distances, noise limits, or outright moratoria—that can stall or cancel wind and solar projects.

The 2026 dataset reveals not only more ordinances but also deeper restrictions in regions already wary of large-scale renewables. Midwestern and Great Plains states that experienced rapid wind expansion in the early 2020s now show some of the largest cumulative ROMO increases, suggesting a policy backlash.

Key Findings

• 975 counties—roughly 30 percent of all U.S. counties—now have at least one restrictive wind or solar ordinance, up from 797 at the end of 2023.
• The largest jumps occurred in Minnesota, Indiana, Montana, and portions of the Southeast, though the reasons vary by state.
• Stringency is also rising: many counties layered multiple rules—combining, for example, acreage limits with height caps and extended public-comment windows.
• State-level policy can override or pre-empt local rules. Minnesota’s 2024 legislation, for instance, allows the Public Utilities Commission to permit large wind and solar facilities, blunting some local restrictions.
• Despite federal incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), project developers report longer timelines, higher costs, and canceled proposals in high-ROMO counties.

Methodology Behind the Numbers

CPR researchers collected publicly available ordinance text through December 2025, supplementing earlier datasets with county-board minutes, zoning updates, and media reports. Each ordinance was coded across more than 20 restriction categories—setbacks, height limits, shadow-flicker standards, decommissioning bonds, and moratoria. Counties received a composite ROMO score based on rule severity and cumulative impact. The 2026 scores were then compared with 2023 baselines to generate state-level and regional change maps, which are searchable online.

Why the Surge in Restrictions?

Authors point to two milestone events:

1. Inflation Reduction Act (2022): By injecting historic levels of tax credits and loan guarantees for renewables, the IRA heightened local awareness of proposed projects. In many rural counties, residents demanded stricter controls before turbines or panels arrived.
2. 2024 Presidential Election: The second Trump campaign openly promoted an anti-renewable platform, echoing policy blueprints in Project 2025. The national rhetoric empowered local activists and fossil-fuel interests, accelerating ordinance passage.

Additional factors include worries about property values, farmland preservation, and perceived loss of local autonomy—concerns often amplified by organized opposition groups.

Implications for a Just Transition

A “just transition” seeks to move to clean energy while protecting workers, supporting host communities, and avoiding new inequities. Local restrictions can undermine that goal in several ways:

• Project delays raise financing costs, potentially pricing out community-based or tribal developers who lack deep capital reserves.
• Concentrated opposition pushes developers toward counties with fewer rules, sometimes on prime farmland or wildlife habitat, sparking additional conflicts.
• Grid congestion increases when renewables cluster in low-ROMO areas far from demand centers, requiring expensive transmission upgrades paid for by all ratepayers.
• Revenue gaps widen: counties that reject wind or solar miss out on lease payments, tax revenue, and jobs, deepening rural economic disparities.

Policy Pathways Forward

The report highlights several tools to balance local concerns with climate and equity goals:

1. State pre-emption with standards: Minnesota’s 2024 law allows state siting for projects ≥ 25 MW while requiring enhanced community-benefit agreements and decommissioning bonds—offering certainty to developers and protections to residents.
2. Revenue sharing: Guaranteeing that a share of property-tax proceeds stays in the host county can reduce fiscal opposition.
3. Local ownership models: Community solar or farmer-owned wind can align economic incentives and increase social acceptance.
4. Transparent mapping: Publicly available ROMO-style databases help planners steer projects toward counties with lower barriers and adequate grid capacity.

What This Means for Stakeholders

Advocates can use ROMO data to target education campaigns in counties on the cusp of restrictive ordinances, emphasizing economic benefits and pollution reductions.

Developers can incorporate local-benefit packages early, reducing the likelihood of moratoria.

Journalists can contextualize local board debates within national trends, highlighting whether claims about property-value impacts align with empirical evidence.

State officials can craft balanced pre-emption laws that streamline permitting while respecting legitimate environmental and cultural concerns.

Conclusion

The 22 percent jump in counties restricting renewable energy marks a critical inflection point for U.S. decarbonization policy. Without stronger state-level guardrails, local ordinances could continue to proliferate, pushing wind and solar into a shrinking subset of jurisdictions and raising overall system costs. Achieving a just transition will require proactive governance—pairing community engagement, economic incentives, and strategic siting—to ensure that the benefits of clean energy reach all communities, not just those with the fewest rules.

References

Center for Progressive Reform. 2026. “Communities Left Behind: Update—Pathway to a Just Transition Grows Steeper.” Retrieved from progressivereform.org.