A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s executive order halting permits for the renewable energy source is unlawful, handing another win to the wind energy industry in its clash with the administration.
District Court Judge Patti Saris ruled Monday afternoon that the president’s day-one executive order suspending all new permits and leases for onshore and offshore wind energy projects was illegal, vacating the order.
“After review of the parties’ submissions and a hearing, the Court concludes that the Wind Order constitutes a final agency action that is arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law,” Saris’s ruling reads.
Saris’ ruling sides with more than a dozen states, as well as a clean energy group in New York, that challenged the executive order, arguing that it froze federal approvals for all wind energy projects.
It marks a major win for the wind energy industry which has faced an onslaught of policy action aimed at preventing the industry from growing under Trump’s second administration.
This is a developing story.
