Preliminary Layouts with Purpose: De-Risking Renewable Projects Under OBBBA

With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) now law and a new executive order tightening enforcement, wind and solar projects must begin significant physical construction by July 4, 2026 or be placed in service before Dec. 31, 2027, to remain eligible for federal tax credits.  

At EPE, this shift positions strategic permitting as a critical operational imperative. Our comprehensive “smart start” approach is designed to address this urgency. The process begins with a Preliminary Engineering Layout built from high-quality, publicly available topographic and geotechnical data. This provides developers with an immediate, data-driven design for permitting, creating a fast and credible head start. By drawing on existing topology including wetland and hydrology databases, flood zone delineation data, and available topography, we can proactively design around sensitive areas and anticipate regulatory hurdles from the very beginning. 

In parallel, our team partners with local firms to conduct field studies. The Wetland Delineation Study identifies and maps ecologically vital areas with precision, while the Hydrology Study assesses existing water flow and drainage, ensuring infrastructure is designed to mitigate and withstand the realities of a changing climate. 

Innovation comes from integration. Our preliminary engineering layouts function as dynamic frameworks, ready to incorporate findings from field studies as they are completed. This parallel methodology of designing while validating cuts critical time from the project timeline, ensuring that by the time permits are under review regulatory submissions are supported by technically robust, compliance-verified, and construction-ready documentation. 

For developers, this approach offers both speed and certainty. It de-risks projects by identifying potential roadblocks early, reducing the likelihood of costly delays that could jeopardize eligibility for incentives. It means projects move forward permit-ready, shovel-ready, and future-ready.

The future of American energy will be driven by the speed of our transition but defined by its resilience and sustainability. By embracing a smart start, projects achieve critical development milestones, secure historic tax credits, and establish the foundational clean energy infrastructure systems required to support generations to come.

To learn more about how our smart start approach can help your projects capture the full value of federal tax credits, contact our team using the form below.