A ‘rain delay’ for the energy transition [partner content]

Catalyst · 20 Jan 2026 · 19m

What this episode covers

Tom Burton, chair of Mintz’s sustainable energy and infrastructure practice, describes the U.S. clean energy sector as entering a 'rain delay' following a surge of projects racing to meet 2026 tax rule deadlines. He explains that while load growth from digital infrastructure and data centers provides a tailwind, federal policy hostility, weaponized permitting, and foreign sourcing rules are creating significant headwinds and a pipeline slowdown for 2027-2028. Burton argues that permitting uncertainty is now a greater threat than tax policy itself, as it prevents projects from even starting, and predicts a consolidation where well-capitalized, agile developers will survive the shakeout.

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