Comments on Federal Judge Vacating Trump’s Unlawful Wind Energy Ban

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Donald Trump has had a problem with wind farms for decades. It seems that it all started with a wind farm that was being proposed offshore near a golf course of his in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He sued the Scottish government in 2006 regarding this. This is the kind of illogical, spiteful, stuck-in-the-past world Donald Trump lives in. Rather than embrace clean, cheap, innovative renewable energy, he has a longstanding gripe about it because he was concerned about how a wind farm would harm his property values in Scotland. Of course, he lost that lawsuit, which makes him extra vengeful and hateful toward clean energy sources like wind and solar.

As president of the United States, Trump has attacked clean energy solutions more than any president in history — yes, even much more than George W. Bush. Solar and wind power have become the cheapest options for new power capacity in most of the world, but rather than make use of that for the USA’s benefit, he’s been doing everything he can to stop solar and wind power plants, cancel project approvals, put up roadblocks to new projects, implement ridiculous new regulations and policies that support coal and fossil gas power plants while blocking renewable energy projects, and so on. It’s absolutely absurd, and it just makes the US a laggard and a more polluted, unhealthy country.

Luckily, we have some good news this week, with a federal judge vacating Donald Trump’s unlawful wind energy ban. I better not say more myself, but below are some comments from the Sierra Club on this ruling, following it and 9 other environmental organizations filing an amicus brief arguing that Trump’s executive order was illegal because it was arbitrary, not based in science, lacked a clear purpose or timeline, and jeopardized US climate goals and public health.

“Last night, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that Donald Trump’s executive order banning wind projects in the United States was unlawful and vacated the order.

“Donald Trump issued an executive order on the first day of his administration that paused all leasing, permitting and approvals for wind projects, killing tens of thousands of jobs across the country. Since then, the administration has rescinded permits for offshore wind projects, halted projects that were 80 percent completed, and gutted tax credits allocated for wind energy projects—all to weaken the rapidly growing wind energy industry.

“Prior to Donald Trump’s assault on wind energy, the industry was one of the fastest-growing job sectors in the country. At the end of 2024, the wind sector employed nearly 150,000 Americans. Because of the administration’s attacks on wind, at least 17,000 jobs are in jeopardy in the offshore wind industry alone.”

Costing the US tens of thousands of jobs and cheaper electricity because of a 19-year resentment toward wind turbines — seriously. This is shameful and idiotic behavior.

“The decision from the Federal Court is a victory for everyone who pays an electricity bill, is part of the clean energy workforce, and breathes air. Americans need cheaper and more reliable energy that does not come at the expense of our health and futures. We are glad to see this illegal order get vacated, and we will continue to advocate for more wind energy projects across the country to lower the cost of energy and create stable, union jobs in our communities,” Sierra Club Senior Advisor Nancy Pyne stated. “We all  deserve the peace of mind that the lights will turn on when we flip the switch, and we shouldn’t have to pay skyrocketing energy costs for that guarantee. Renewable energy will pave the way to a healthier and more affordable future for us all.”

“Today marks a pivotal win in our movement to ensure Massachusetts has access to affordable, clean energy harnessed right on our coast by local union workers,” said Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter Director Vick Mohanka. “Our communities need rate relief and an escape route off the rollercoaster of gas price spikes reflected on our monthly utility bills. Offshore wind is the answer. As Sierra Club, we will continue doing our part in championing our state’s projects across the finish line so they may soon deliver reliable energy that keeps the lights on and bills low.”

“We are glad to see the Federal Court side with Connecticut’s choice for the energy our state and local communities want,” said Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter Director Samantha Dynowski. “We are especially grateful for the leadership of Attorney General Tong who has relentlessly championed Revolution Wind and the right of Connecticut families to homegrown, affordable, clean energy.”

“We are glad to see federal judges agreeing that the Trump administration overreached in its attacks on offshore wind,” said Matt Sehrswenney, Climate Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter. “This ruling reopens the path for Maryland’s first offshore wind project to start powering homes as soon as possible. Offshore wind is among our state’s best options for reliable, homegrown energy that can lower electricity bills and reduce harmful fossil fuel pollution.”