In most states, local governments control where renewable projects can be built. In a June 16 op‑ed titled “On Energy, Democrats Can Learn From Texas,” Rahm Emanuel urges a tax on hyperscale tech firms and asks the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to impose a 24‑month “shot clock” on permitting so reluctant jurisdictions cannot block approved projects. Delays add millions to balance‑sheet costs, pushing developers toward routes.

The diagnosis hits a real bottleneck, but the prescription looks at the wrong level. Washington does not sit transmission lines; counties do. When county boards stall, developers face higher interconnection costs and equity investors demand risk premiums, tightening financing for wind and solar farms across the nation. Such setbacks can erode profitability of transmission upgrades valued at billions, raising concerns for investors in utility bonds.

Investors and utilities will therefore focus on winning local approvals rather than lobbying federal rule changes. Building relationships with county planners, offering community benefits and streamlining right‑of‑way agreements can shave months off construction schedules, preserving project economics and keeping renewable capacity additions on track. County‑level negotiations also create opportunities for developers to secure local tax incentives that can offset interconnection expenses.