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New Jersey and 18 states argue that the federal freeze on wind projects threatens clean energy goals, economic investment, and affordable electricity.
5-06-2025 1:46pm
NJ Joins 18-State Lawsuit Challenging Trump Admin’s Halt on Wind Energy Development
NEW JERSEY - New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in suing the Trump Administration over its directive to halt all federal approvals for wind energy development, a move that the states argue undermines their clean energy goals and economic investments.
“As New Jersey moves toward achieving 100 percent clean electricity sales by 2035, wind energy plays a crucial role in that vision,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Wind energy has the potential to generate thousands of good-paying jobs, reduce harmful emissions, and secure a healthier, more sustainable future for all New Jerseyans. We are committed to reversing this disruptive action and will take every step necessary to get these projects back on track.”
The lawsuit, filed this week, challenges a Presidential Memorandum issued by President Donald Trump on January 20. The directive indefinitely suspended all permitting and approval processes for both offshore and onshore wind projects, including projects that had already received federal clearance and begun construction. According to the complaint, federal agencies have since complied with the directive, ceasing all activities tied to wind energy development.
“It is deeply disappointing that the Trump Administration is illegally attempting to block our state from developing new sources of power through their across-the-board freeze on wind energy,” said Attorney General Platkin. “While the Trump Administration prioritizes the profits of oil and gas companies, we are standing up for working families, for our environment, and for the jobs being killed by this unlawful action. For our state and for our future generations, we are filing a lawsuit against the Administration and working to stop them from preventing the development of wind energy here in New Jersey.”
New Jersey, which has made substantial investments in wind infrastructure under Governor Phil Murphy’s administration, stands to lose economic momentum, job opportunities, and a critical component of its clean energy strategy, the lawsuit asserts. Wind power currently supplies more than 10% of the nation’s electricity and is touted as a reliable and growing source of energy that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide.
The complaint argues that the President’s blanket freeze on wind energy approvals violates several federal laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs contend that the directive is arbitrary and capricious, lacking a reasoned explanation and contradicting years of established federal energy policy promoting renewable development. The lawsuit also claims that the administration’s action bypasses statutory permitting procedures, unlawfully obstructing energy infrastructure projects in progress.
Attorney General Platkin emphasized that halting wind development could have serious consequences for New Jersey’s energy grid and consumers, particularly as demand for electricity grows and utility costs rise. Wind energy has been projected to deliver cost savings for residents and support the creation of high-quality jobs in the state.
The legal challenge is joined by attorneys general from New York, Massachusetts, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Together, the states assert that the federal freeze threatens billions of dollars already invested in wind energy infrastructure and imperils their ability to meet legally mandated climate and energy goals.
The case is expected to test the limits of executive authority over federal permitting processes and will likely play a significant role in shaping the future of renewable energy policy in the United States.
