The Trump administration has abandoned its fight against wind energy projects across the US, dropping its court challenge to a ruling that overturned President Trump's order freezing federal permitting and leasing for such projects. This move came after the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit dismissed the appeal following the Justice Department’s voluntary dismissal on June 10.
The case was filed by a coalition of attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, DC, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, in May 2025. Judge Patti Saris ruled that Trump's January 2025 executive order was unlawful, finding the ban on wind projects 'arbitrary and capricious' and beyond his authority.
Environmental and wildlife advocates celebrated this latest victory. Nancy Pyne of the Sierra Club stated: ‘Renewable energy continues to prevail and grow in spite of Trump's relentless attacks.’
Despite a series of policy, permitting, and procedural hurdles imposed by the administration, clean energy production is surging. A recent report from the Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy projects that 79.7 GW of clean power could be added to the US grid in 2026.
