未来能源研究所-将绿色能源项目告上法庭_国家环境政策法_审查和可再生能源面临的法庭挑战（英）-2025.7_1_59页_3mb

Summary of NEPA Court Challenges Report

This report examines the effects of court challenges on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews for renewable energy projects. Nearly 400 utility-scale solar and wind projects completed formal agency reviews and faced subsequent legal challenges. About one-third of solar projects and half of wind projects encountered court actions, typically filed after agency decisions were issued. Only a minority resulted in legal victory for plaintiffs (e.g., Sierra Club and environmental groups), though appeals extended timelines substantially. Litigation often delayed projects by an average of 15 months beyond the Record of Decision (ROD) before reaching operation. Some court challenges contributed to project terminations and led to settlements, often involving land reductions or other concessions by developers.

These findings highlight a trade-off between streamlining agency permitting processes and increasing litigation risks. Future reforms, such as shortening statutes of limitations for judicial review, may facilitate project deployment but could invite procedural and fairness concerns.