Attorney General Kwame Raoul has secured a legal victory against the Trump administration regarding federal permitting for wind energy projects. A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled in favor of Raoul and a coalition of attorneys general, vacating the Trump administration’s order that froze all federal approvals for offshore and onshore wind energy development.
The lawsuit was filed in May after President Trump issued a memorandum on January 20 that halted all necessary federal permits for wind energy projects pending further review. Following this directive, agencies stopped all permitting activities related to wind power.
Raoul stated, “Wind energy is a key component in Illinois’ transition to a renewable energy future. The Trump administration’s attempt to effectively halt all wind energy development was illegal and baseless. I am pleased with the court’s decision, and I will continue to push back against the president’s unlawful actions.”
The coalition of attorneys general argued that the freeze undermined states’ efforts to secure reliable and affordable sources of electricity, reduce emissions, meet clean energy goals, and address climate change. They also said it threatened billions of dollars invested by states in wind industry infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce development.
Illinois is among the leading states in renewable wind energy production and plans further expansion of its wind power sector.
In their arguments, the coalition maintained that federal agencies acted without providing a reasoned explanation for indefinitely halting all approvals. They claimed this action violated the Administrative Procedure Act and other laws requiring specific procedures and timelines for permitting.
Joining Raoul in filing the lawsuit were attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.