Uncertainty around federal funding, permitting approvals and tariffs is creating major challenges for clean energy development in the Northeast, industry representatives said at NECA’s annual Renewable Energy Conference.

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy looked into demand growth, which both parties recognized as an opportunity that could benefit policy changes, though plenty of daylight exists on how to address it.

Facing a 40% hike in electricity demand by 2030, New Jersey needs to rapidly craft a plan on how to boost generation and develop its transmission and distribution system, speakers at a conference on the state’s energy future said.

Rystad Energy expects capacity additions to reach 19 GW and expenditures to reach $80 billion — substantially more than the roughly 8 GW and 10 GW seen in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

A Brattle Group study found that New York could achieve 8.5 GW in “grid flexibility” measures by 2040, saving consumers more than $2 billion a year.

While the majority of IRA tax credits and incentives have gone to develop clean energy projects in Republican districts and states, House leadership leans heavily toward fossil fuel-producing states,