Attorneys General Challenge Trump’s Wind Energy Executive Order
A coalition of 17 state attorneys general and Washington, D.C., has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s executive order halting wind energy project approvals. The lawsuit, initiated in federal court in Massachusetts, claims Trump lacks the authority to pause permits and loans for both offshore and onshore wind initiatives. New York Attorney General Letitia James, leading the coalition, highlights the order’s potential to jeopardize critical job creation and investments while delaying the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Trump’s executive order undermines bipartisan support for wind energy, asserting legal deficiencies in federal leasing and permitting. His administration has explicitly sought to dismantle the offshore wind sector, a stark shift from the Biden administration’s supportive measures, which have included facilitating national goals for offshore wind expansion.
The coalition emphasizes that wind energy, currently accounting for about 10% of U.S. electricity, is vital for states’ economic and environmental ambitions. New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the executive order for fostering regulatory confusion essential for business operations.
With significant stakes in the development of wind energy, the coalition argues that Trump’s actions contradict previous commitments to expand domestic energy production, posing a threat to the nation’s renewable power initiatives.
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