Trump Freezes Wind Energy Projects, Blue States File Federal Lawsuit

A coalition of 18 Democrat-led states filed a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration, challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order halting approvals for offshore wind energy projects.

As GOP USA reported, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts and is spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The lawsuit targets a directive issued on January 20, President Trump’s first day back in office. The order suspended all new offshore wind leases on the outer continental shelf and froze related permitting actions.

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According to the complaint, the freeze has stalled multiple planned projects, including a federally approved development near New York that has already ceased construction.

Trump’s order cited concerns over marine ecosystems, navigational safety, national defense operations, and the reliability of intermittent wind power. The directive also questioned the economic impact of wind energy on energy prices and its dependence on manufacturing from China.

“We’re not going to do the wind thing,” Trump said from the Oval Office on January 20.

“So if you’re into whales, you don’t want windmills either, and they’re the most expensive form of energy that you can have by far. They’re all made in China, by the way, practically all of them. They kill your birds and they ruin your beautiful landscapes.”

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The plaintiffs argue that the president’s directive violates the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds executive authority by imposing a nationwide policy without proper process or statutory authorization.

The lawsuit asks the court for a preliminary injunction to resume wind energy permitting while the case moves forward.

In a press release, Attorney General James claimed the administration’s action “is devastating one of our nation’s fastest-growing sources of clean, reliable, and affordable energy.” She stated the move could result in job losses, halted investment, and stalled climate policy goals.

The coalition’s complaint highlights that states like New York are legally bound to meet aggressive renewable energy targets.

Under state law, New York must generate 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieve 100% by 2040. According to the plaintiffs, New York’s wind energy industry currently supports over 4,400 jobs and could add 18,000 more in the next decade.

Other plaintiffs include attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

In response, the White House dismissed the lawsuit as a partisan effort.

“Instead of working with President Trump to unleash American energy and lower prices for American families, Democrat Attorneys General are using lawfare to stop the President’s popular energy agenda,” said Taylor Rogers, White House assistant press secretary, in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“The American people voted for the President to restore America’s energy dominance, and Americans in blue states should not have to pay the price of the Democrats’ radical climate agenda.”

Trump’s Jan. 20 directive also called for a government-wide review of existing wind leases and an assessment of idle or non-functioning turbines.

It accompanied a broader push to accelerate domestic oil, gas, and mineral production and eliminate climate regulations enacted during the Biden administration.

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