New York Attorney General Leads Legal Battle Against Trump Administration’s Wind Energy Halt

New York Attorney General Letitia James is spearheading a coalition of 18 states in a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s abrupt suspension of wind energy development. The lawsuit, prompted by President Trump’s directive on January 20, 2025, to halt all federal approvals for wind energy projects, aims to safeguard billions in maritime investments and thousands of jobs nationwide.

The ramifications of this policy have already reverberated in the maritime industry, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) instructing Equinor’s Empire Wind, a major offshore wind project, to halt all construction activities on April 16, 2025. The project, situated off the coast of New York, represents a $5 billion investment intended to power 500,000 New York homes by 2027. Despite commencing construction in 2024 and securing over $3 billion in project financing last December, the project now faces uncertainty. Additionally, the project has a potential second phase that could generate approximately 2.1 gigawatts of power.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum justified the suspension by expressing concerns about the prior administration’s approval process, insisting that the freeze would persist “until further review of information that suggests the Biden administration rushed through its approval without sufficient analysis.”

Empire Wind is just one of many projects in various stages of development across the U.S., with total investments exceeding $28 billion according to BloombergNEF analysis.

New York State has set an ambitious goal of developing 9,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy by 2035.

Attorney General James argues that the administration’s indefinite blockade on the burgeoning offshore wind sector could strand or underutilize billions of dollars in states’ clean energy investments and significantly impede economic progress.

“This administration is jeopardizing one of our nation’s fastest-growing sources of clean, dependable, and cost-effective energy,” declared Attorney General James. “This arbitrary and unnecessary directive puts at risk thousands of well-paying jobs and billions in investments.”

The attorneys general contend that President Trump is overstepping his legal authority and lacks the statutory right to unilaterally halt the permitting process.

The coalition of states, including California, Massachusetts, and Washington, is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the administration from enforcing the freeze while the legal proceedings unfold. The outcome of this legal battle holds significant implications for the future of America’s offshore wind industry and its associated maritime infrastructure investments.

This development marks a stark departure from the Biden administration’s proactive stance on offshore wind initiatives, aiming for 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

“President Trump’s directive halting wind energy development jeopardizes numerous well-paying jobs and undermines our ability to establish a reliable, affordable, and clean energy grid for all New Yorkers,” remarked New York Governor Kathy Hochul. “Like most executive orders issued by the President thus far, it breeds confusion and disrupts the crucial regulatory clarity necessary for businesses to operate effectively in New York and nationwide.”