Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Letitia James has 'no leg to stand on' in lawsuit against Trump offshore wind order, experts say

 Trump Halts Offshore Wind:

    • On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order halting new offshore wind leases and construction for industry impact review.

    • This reversed the Biden administration’s offshore wind expansion goals (30 GW by 2030).

  • Legal Challenge from Blue States:

    • New York AG Letitia James and 16 other Democratic attorneys general sued the Trump administration.

    • The lawsuit claims the moratorium is arbitrary, threatens clean energy goals, jobs, and economic growth.

  • Industry Setbacks and Court Battles:

    • Trump’s halt stopped projects like Empire Wind off Long Island; developer Equinor is considering legal action.

    • Supreme Court declined to hear challenges from fishing groups and environmental organizations against Vineyard Wind.

    • Lawsuits argued Biden’s administration ignored environmental laws and rushed permitting.

  • Critics of the Lawsuit:

    • Critics say since Biden began the wind program via executive order, Trump can halt it the same way.

    • Legal experts argue courts can’t force the administration to support wind energy.

  • Offshore Wind Industry Struggles:

    • Even before Trump’s moratorium, several developers (Orsted, BP, Shell) pulled back or canceled projects.

    • Rising costs, environmental concerns, and opposition from fishing and coastal communities are mounting.

  • Concerns Raised by Opponents:

    • Critics claim offshore wind harms whales, raises energy costs, and disrupts marine and local economies.

    • Some argue the push for offshore wind is based on exaggerated climate crisis claims.

  • https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/energy/letitia-james-has-no-leg-stand-lawsuit-against-trump-offshore-wind-block

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