President Donald Trump's crusade against renewables was dealt a blow on Monday when a federal judge vacated a January executive order that halted wind energy development on public lands.
In May, 17 states and the District of Columbia filed suit against Trump over the order, which directed federal agencies to "not issue new or renewed approvals, rights of way, permits, leases, or loans for onshore or offshore wind projects," as the government reviewed leasing and permitting practices for these sources. The order, along with other directives, resulted in the cancellation of several permitted wind projects, including one that was approved under the first Trump administration. At the time of the lawsuit, ClearView Energy Partners Managing Director Timothy Fox told The New York Times, "he expected the lawsuit to face an uphill climb in convincing the court to block the executive order."
