Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Renewable Energy Permitting Restrictions

Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Casper in Boston issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from enforcing policies that had stalled wind and solar energy projects nationwide. The ruling targeted Department of Interior and Army Corps of Engineers policies implemented in early 2025, including a requirement that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum personally approve all solar and wind projects on federal lands and waters. Nine clean energy organizations sued, arguing the administration's actions were "arbitrary and capricious" and unlawfully discriminated against renewable technologies while favoring fossil fuel development. The injunction affects approximately 57 gigawatts of stalled renewable energy projects. Judge Casper ruled the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that the policies violated the Administrative Procedure Act by imposing discriminatory barriers without proper justification or public comment periods.

"The administration's policies were arbitrary and capricious and unlawfully discriminated against renewable technologies" — From the court ruling by Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Casper, characterizing the Trump administration's renewable energy restrictions