Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A federal judge in Massachusetts has struck down President Donald Trump's executive order blocking new offshore wind development.
In a ruling Dec. 8, U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris said the order amounted to a final agency action that was unlawfully arbitrary and capricious.
Ocean wind power advocates cheered the ruling, but cautioned that it would not likely change the course of an administration that has been dead-set against developing turbines off the U.S. coast.
The order, issued on Trump's first day in office, directed federal agencies to suspend issuing all new leases, permits, and other authorizations for wind energy projects pending a review of federal practices.
Maine and 16 other states filed suit against the administration to revoke the order.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, in a press release, said he was gratified the court agreed that the administration had overstepped its authority.
Spokespeople for the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Read the full story by Peter McGuire at mainepublic.org.
A federal judge in Massachusetts has struck down President Donald Trump's executive order blocking new offshore wind development.
In a ruling Dec. 8, U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris said the order amounted to a final agency action that was unlawfully arbitrary and capricious.
Ocean wind power advocates cheered the ruling, but cautioned that it would not likely change the course of an administration that has been dead-set against developing turbines off the U.S. coast.
The order, issued on Trump's first day in office, directed federal agencies to suspend issuing all new leases, permits, and other authorizations for wind energy projects pending a review of federal practices.
Maine and 16 other states filed suit against the administration to revoke the order.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, in a press release, said he was gratified the court agreed that the administration had overstepped its authority.
Spokespeople for the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Read the full story by Peter McGuire at mainepublic.org.
