The renewable energy sector is no stranger to uncertainty. But in the wake of the OBBB’s release, developers aren’t retreating, they’re recalibrating. Based on conversations with Nira customers, here are five shifts we're hearing in response to the new budget realities.

Staying the Course - With Discipline

Despite initial concerns, most developers aren’t backing away from the market. Projects are still moving forward, pipelines are still growing, but with sharper focus. Teams are tightening budgets and optimizing siting strategies. The message we’re hearing: the market fundamentals haven’t changed.

Early Stage Portfolio Rebalancing and a Window for Buyers

For teams holding large portfolios with commercial operation dates (CODs) in the ~5-year range, many are actively reducing exposure and rebalancing their portfolios. Developers are investing resources in projects with earlier CODs (2028, 2029)  to ensure they qualify for safe harbor rules and ITC incentives. At the same time, later-stage projects (2031 and beyond) are being kept on hold as there is time to wait for stronger price signals from the market. Projects in the middle are at the highest risk, triggering portfolio balancing efforts. This has led to an uptick in fire sales and projects changing hands at steep discounts. If you have capital, there’s a real opening to acquire quality assets at a substantial discount.

Accelerated Depreciation Offers Meaningful Financial Upside

The availability of permanent 100% first-year bonus depreciation is emerging as a significant source of value. This monetization structure can deliver substantial benefits, particularly for developers and investors with the financial capacity to fully utilize it. For some, this mechanism may help offset the loss or reduction of other incentives and guide how projects are capitalized and financed in this new policy environment.

Storage in Focus, Siting Gets Smarter

Storage is gaining momentum as a central part of development strategy. At the same time, wind and solar projects are being sited with more scrutiny: strong resource areas, better interconnection prospects, and favorable state policies (like RPS mandates) are driving decisions. The bar for siting is higher now, and that’s pushing developers to be more strategic from the start.

Prices Will Rise — Just a Matter of When

Demand is continuing to rapidly rise. New generation projects are still needed, and the fundamentals are still strong. Most developers expect pricing to increase, it’s just unclear how quickly. In the meantime, it’s about staying agile: managing near-term uncertainty while positioning for long-term opportunity.

In this environment, the margin for error is smaller — and the need for fast, confident decision-making is higher. Whether you're prioritizing near-term COD projects, evaluating distressed asset buys, or reworking siting and interconnection strategy, Nira gives your team the data and tools to move quickly and accurately. From substation-level capacity insights to full-stack interconnection analysis across every major ISO, Nira helps developers like you:

• Evaluate risk and cost before making your next move

• Save time on modeling and queue management, so you can focus on the deals that matter

If you're recalibrating your strategy post-OBBB, we're here to help. Book a call with our team today.