April 2026: Inside the Greenhouse

Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly update on FCNL’s environmental advocacy and the climate crisis.

FCNL Welcomes Jeffrey Jordan II to the Energy & Environment Team!

We are thrilled to have Jeffrey Jordan II join our team as the new Legislative Representative for Sustainable Energy and Environment.

Jeffrey previously served as a federal policy fellow with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, working on both domestic and international policy, and was a researcher with the social innovation practicum at the American University School of International Service. Jeffrey is a lawyer who is passionate about environmental advocacy, having published a law thesis entitled The Environmental Issues and Lasting Impact of Warfare on Civilization in the Middle East, focusing on addressing climate change before, during, and post-conflict.

Energy Development at a Standstill Due to Permitting

As electricity demand surges, the U.S. federal government’s permitting for clean energy projects has become a major bottleneck. Lengthy approval processes are slowing construction, driving up costs, and forcing developers to change how they plan projects entirely.

A new survey by the clean energy finance platform, Crux, found widespread federal permitting process delays. More than 80 percent of those surveyed said they chose the location for their projects to avoid triggering a lengthy federal review.

These delays cost money. On average, respondents reported waiting more than six months longer than expected, increasing total project costs by 6 to 10 percent. When projects take longer and become less predictable, they cost more to develop, and those extra costs get passed along to consumers like us through higher bills.

Worse still, 94 percent of respondents stated that federal approval delays have directly contributed to the delay or cancellation of one of their projects. One solar project cited in the study sat idle for 10 months while waiting on a wildlife survey that was required late in the process.

Some large-scale solar projects have recently started moving through the Interior Department again after being stuck for months, but that progress is uneven. When asked what they want most out of a reformed system, 72 percent of developers said their top priority was not speed but consistency. Developers can handle a long process, but what’s more difficult is one where the goalposts keep moving. Reform should target that unpredictability above all else.

Federal Agencies Warn About Hacking of Infrastructure Facilities

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a warning on April 7 that hackers linked to Iran have been attempting to break into computer systems that control America’s water and energy infrastructure.

Over 80 percent of Americans rely on the nation’s 152,000 public drinking water systems for potable water. Yet, in 2023, EPA inspections found that more than 70% of those facilities carry cybersecurity vulnerabilities, including failure to change default passwords or restrict staff logins. Worse still, since treatment and distribution systems run almost entirely on electricity, a cyberattack or disruption to the energy grid can take down water service as well.

The U.S. government didn’t name a specific hacker group but described the culprits as Iranian-affiliated and said their aim is to disrupt. U.S. officials believe the current wave of attacks is motivated by the broader conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

Huge Stride in Global Renewable Energy Capacity

In 2025, renewable energy reached nearly half of global electricity capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), with solar leading. By contrast, fossil fuel capacity grew much slower, pushing renewables’ global share to 49.4%, up from 46.3% in 2024.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East demonstrates the value of strong renewable infrastructure, which shields countries from fossil fuel market volatility. This milestone also moves the world closer to the COP28 goal of tripling renewable capacity by 2030, though last year’s 15.5% growth fell slightly short of the necessary 16.6% annual pace. The world is moving swiftly toward our climate and energy security goals with both record installations and shifting electricity generation.

What We’re Reading:

Paul Aversa

Program Assistant for Nuclear Disarmament and Pentagon Spending

Paul Aversa is the 2025-2026 Program Assistant for Nuclear Disarmament and Pentagon Spending. He lobbies Congress to address international climate change and conservation issues, and conducts interviews with people at the frontlines of the climate crisis to better understand their perspectives.