Overview
- U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris ruled the day-one order halting all new onshore and offshore wind permits and leases arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law.
- The court sided with 17 states, Washington, D.C., and the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, finding they showed ongoing or imminent injuries such as reduced revenues and delayed generation.
- The decision nullifies the blanket pause but leaves agencies free to pursue revocation or changes to individual project permits, preserving project-level legal risk.
- Under the directive, the administration canceled a major Idaho onshore project, issued stop-work orders including one for Revolution Wind later ruled illegal, allowed Empire Wind to resume, cut $679 million in offshore wind funding, and heightened Interior reviews.
- The White House declined to say whether it will appeal and defended the order as a step to review leasing with attention to reliability, energy costs, marine life, and fishing.