Introduction
The administration of US President Donald Trump continues its campaign to end wind energy development through a series of executive orders, lawsuits, and lease buybacks. This is despite a recent court defeat and its own Department of Energy estimating the country could be powered by wind alone.
Trump's Position
Trump has made no secret of his disdain for renewable energy. In 2025, he said: "We don’t want wind, and we don’t want solar because they’re a blight on our country". On the first day of his second term, January 20, 2025, Trump issued a presidential action to remove leasing opportunities for all new and renewed offshore wind projects. He also directed the government to "conduct a comprehensive review of the ecological, economic, and environmental necessity of terminating or amending any existing wind energy leases".
States' Reaction
In response, attorneys general from 17 states successfully sued the administration. A district court ruled the government’s action was "arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law". The administration appealed, but on June 10, the Department of Justice filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss the case. The US Court of Appeals did so on June 15.
Comments and Analysis
Andrea Campbell, the attorney general for the state of Massachusetts, one of the litigators behind the lawsuit, said in a statement: "Massachusetts has directed hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore wind development, and the court correctly protected those critical investments from the Trump Administration’s unlawful order".
Conclusion
While the administration abandoned the appeal, it has been buying back leases for wind farms. On June 17, the administration announced plans to pay...
Source / Reference
This article was originally published on Mongabay