A coalition of 18 attorneys general has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration challenging a directive that temporarily halts all federal approvals for wind energy projects, arguing the move jeopardizes state-led clean energy initiatives and violates federal law.
The lawsuit, led by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and filed in federal court, targets a Presidential Memorandum issued on January 20 that suspends permitting for both onshore and offshore wind energy development pending further review by federal agencies.
“Massachusetts has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore wind to ensure our residents have access to well-paying green jobs and reliable, affordable energy that helps meet our clean energy and climate goals,” Campbell said in a statement. “The President’s attempts to stop homegrown wind energy development directly contradict his claims that there is a growing need for reliable domestic energy.”
According to the complaint, the directive has blocked new permits and approvals and halted construction on an already-approved offshore wind project in New York. The states argue the freeze undermines efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, diversify energy portfolios, and protect significant public and private investments in wind energy infrastructure and workforce development.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President Doreen Harris said, “The offshore wind industry alone is spurring domestic supply chain investments of $40 billion across 40 different states. Federal actions jeopardizing locally-produced energy risk the economic stability of all states.”
The plaintiffs claim the administration’s order violates the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to provide adequate justification for reversing federal policy and disregards legally mandated permitting processes and timelines. They are seeking to overturn the memorandum and reinstate the permitting system to prevent further delays.
The coalition includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
