Federal judge strikes Trump order blocking wind energy development

A federal judge has overturned former President Donald Trump’s “Day One” executive order that blocked wind energy development on federal lands and waters. Judge Patti Saris ruled the order unlawful and “arbitrary and capricious,” siding with a coalition of 17 state attorneys general and Washington, D.C., led by New York AG Letitia James. The coalition argued that Trump lacked authority to halt permitting and that the freeze harmed state economies, the energy sector, public health, and climate efforts. The White House responded by claiming wind projects had been favored during the Biden administration, while other energy industries faced excessive regulation. Wind remains the largest source of renewable electricity in the U.S., generating about 10% of national power. Texas leads the country, producing 28% of U.S. wind electricity in 2024. The ruling comes amid wider disruptions to clean-energy initiatives caused by recent policy shifts. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act shortened key hydrogen incentives from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, prompting ExxonMobil to pause its Baytown low-carbon hydrogen project; two other Houston-area projects also lost federal support after DOE funding cuts totaling $700 million. Additionally, Texas House Democrats have urged the administration to reinstate a $250 million Solar for All grant meant to help low-income families install solar panels.