Federal judge strikes down Trump’s ban on wind energy projects

Dec. 9 (UPI) — A federal judge in Massachusetts overturned President Donald Trump’s decision to halt all new permits for wind energy projects.

The ruling by Judge Patti Saris of the District of Massachusetts on Monday called the ban “arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law” and said there wasn’t a good explanation for implementing it.

Trump halted all new wind energy project permits in a Jan. 20 executive order, one of more than 200 he signed that day. The order said new permitting would be put on hold until there could be a “comprehensive assessment” of wind energy’s impact on the economy and environment.

The ban led to seven offshore wind projects being paused.

A coalition of 17 states led by New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Trump in May, saying his ban created “an existential threat to the wind industry.”

In a post on X, James called Monday’s ruling a “big victory in our fight to keep tackling the climate crisis and protect oe of our best sources of clean, reliable and affordable energy.”

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers issued a statement to CNBC saying “offshore wind projects were given unfair, preferential treatment while the rest of the energy industry was hindered by burdensome regulations.”

The Environmental Defense Fund, which supported the attorneys general who brought the lawsuit, said wind energy provides more than 10% of power in the United States and employs more than 130,000 people.

“Striking down this unlawful ban gives relief to the communities and workers who need affordable power, local investment and jobs from wind projects that have been stuck in limbo,” said Ted Kelly, director and lead counsel of U.S. Clean Energy at the EDF.