New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration over its freeze on new wind energy development. The coalition is asking a federal court to intervene and immediately restart the approval process for stalled projects.
Filed on May 5, 2025, the lawsuit challenges President Donald Trump’s January directive that suspended all federal approvals for wind energy, a move critics say threatens clean energy progress, job creation, and economic investments across the country.
Wind energy halt called “unlawful” and “devastating”
Attorney General James described the federal freeze as “arbitrary and unnecessary,” warning it would result in the loss of thousands of good-paying jobs and delay the nation’s shift away from fossil fuels.
“This administration is devastating one of our nation’s fastest-growing sources of clean, reliable, and affordable energy,” James said.
The coalition argues that Trump’s order contradicts years of bipartisan support for offshore and onshore wind projects. It also conflicts with the administration’s own executive orders declaring a “national energy emergency” and calling for more domestic energy production — with wind energy notably excluded.
Threats to jobs, clean power, and state investments
States rely on expanding wind power to meet rising electricity demand, reduce emissions, and comply with climate laws. In New York alone, wind energy projects currently support more than 4,400 jobs and are expected to create 18,000 additional jobs in the coming years.
The lawsuit claims the indefinite halt puts billions of dollars in state investments at risk, derailing key projects designed to power millions of homes. It also directly threatens New York’s statutory goals of sourcing 70% of electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and achieving 100% clean energy by 2040.
Recently, the Trump administration ordered a federally approved offshore wind project near New York to immediately stop construction, further escalating concerns about long-term clean energy disruptions.
States challenge Trump’s legal authority
Attorney General James and her counterparts argue that the president does not have the legal authority to unilaterally block the permitting process for wind energy projects. They are seeking a court order to declare the freeze unlawful and restore the federal approval pipeline.
Joining New York in the lawsuit are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
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