Federal Judge Orders Pentagon to Resume Review of Wind Projects

A federal judge has ordered the Pentagon to lift its freeze on reviewing onshore wind projects. Judge Karin Immergut of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, nominated by President Donald Trump, ruled in favor of renewable energy groups that argued the Trump administration unlawfully delayed numerous wind projects, costing states billions of dollars. In April, the Pentagon halted military reviews of proposed onshore wind farms, which are typically conducted to ensure that new turbines do not interfere with military operations. The renewable energy groups claimed that the freeze affected 106 planned projects across 21 states, resulting in an estimated $47 billion loss in potential investments. Immergut concluded that the Pentagon violated legal deadlines and ordered the agency to resume the reviews, providing updates to the court every 30 days. The ruling was welcomed by environmental organizations, with Sierra Club attorney Joshua Berman describing it as a victory for the rule of law. The Trump administration had argued that the pause was necessary for national security and had previously imposed regulatory hurdles for wind farms and canceled funding for offshore projects.