A group of attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., have banded together to file a lawsuit challenging former President Donald Trump’s executive action aimed at halting wind energy development. Trump’s decree, issued on his inaugural day back in office, put a pause on the approvals, permits, and loans related to both onshore and offshore wind energy projects. The attorneys general contend that Trump lacked the unilateral authority to disrupt the permitting process and argue that his move could endanger a vital energy source crucial for economic growth, diversification of energy sources, public health, and climate objectives.
In an effort to overturn this directive, the coalition is requesting a federal court to declare Trump’s order unlawful and to prevent federal agencies from enforcing the order. Letitia James, the New York Attorney General leading the alliance, emphasized in a statement the potential loss of thousands of high-paying jobs and billions of dollars in investments that could result from what she termed as an arbitrary and unnecessary directive. Furthermore, she noted that this directive delays shifting away from fossil fuels, which are detrimental to health and the environment.
Meanwhile, the White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers accused the Democratic attorneys general of weaponizing the legal system to obstruct Trump’s popular energy agenda. Rogers pointed out that Americans in states governed by Democrats should not bear the brunt of what she described as a radical climate agenda, as voters elected Trump to regain America’s energy dominance.
During his campaign, Trump had promised to dismantle the offshore wind industry if re-elected. His order claimed there were alleged legal issues with the government’s leasing and permitting of wind projects and instructed the Interior Secretary to examine past practices concerning federal waters and lands. The lawsuit has been filed in a federal court in Massachusetts.
This move directly counters the Biden administration’s push towards offshore wind energy as part of its climate solution strategy. Biden’s team had set ambitious national targets, conducted lease sales, and even approved several commercial projects. However, Trump reversed these policies, focusing instead on promoting fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal, arguing that this shift is necessary to provide the nation with the least expensive energy sources.
Recently, in a more aggressive measure against wind energy, Trump’s administration halted construction on the Empire Wind project off Long Island, New York. The project, after enduring a seven-year permitting process, was to provide power to half a million New York homes but was stopped at about 30% completion, with accusations that the previous administration hastily approved it.
Wind energy, responsible for around 10% of the U.S.’s electricity, has long received bipartisan support. The attorneys general argue that Trump’s order contradicts his own stance on expanding domestic energy during a proclaimed “national energy emergency.” The involved states have collectively invested hundreds of millions in wind energy development and transmission infrastructure essential for delivering this renewable resource to the power grid.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the executive order for creating business uncertainty where stable regulations are essential. Large offshore wind farms serve as the cornerstone for East Coast states’ plans to transition to renewable energy, especially in densely populated areas with land constraints. Notably, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm began operations east of Montauk Point in New York last year.
In Massachusetts, with several offshore wind projects underway, Attorney General Andrea Campbell noted the importance of investment in offshore wind for creating green jobs and ensuring affordable, reliable energy access. The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear a challenge from fishing organizations against the approval of one such project, Vineyard Wind.
Trump’s administration also suspended funding for offshore wind research in Maine and withdrew a permit for a proposed project in New Jersey. Meanwhile, efforts continue elsewhere to expand wind energy investment; for instance, Nova Scotia aims to offer extensive offshore wind leases by 2030.