Federal judge throws out Trump order blocking development of wind energy

"A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump's executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was arbitrary and capricious and violates U.S. law. Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated Trump's Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful."

"Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell hailed the ruling as a victory for green jobs and renewable energy. Massachusetts has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore wind, and today, we successfully protected those important investments from the Trump administration's unlawful order, Campbell said in a statement. This critical victory also preserves well-paying green jobs and access to reliable, affordable energy that will help Massachusetts meet our clean energy and climate goals, she added."

"The coalition that opposed Trump's order argued that Trump doesn't have the authority to halt project permitting, and that doing so jeopardizes the states' economies, energy mix, public health and climate goals. The government argued that the states' claims amount to nothing more than a policy disagreement over preferences for wind versus fossil fuel energy development that is outside the federal court's jurisdiction."

Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated and declared unlawful President Trump's Jan. 20 executive order pausing leasing and permitting for wind energy projects on federal lands and waters. The court found the effort to halt virtually all leasing arbitrary, capricious and in violation of U.S. law. A coalition of 17 state attorneys general and Washington, D.C., led by New York Attorney General Letitia James challenged the order. The coalition argued Trump lacked authority to halt permitting and that the pause jeopardizes state economies, energy mixes, public health and climate goals. The Justice Department contended the pause did not halt permitting while Interior Secretary Doug Burgum reviews environmental impacts.

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