Federal judge overturns Trump order freezing wind energy permitting

A federal judge has struck down an executive order that indefinitely paused wind energy permitting and leasing. The judge found the order unlawful and agencies' actions arbitrary and capricious. The ruling states federal agencies failed to explain or justify reversing decades of wind energy permitting policy. This reversal risked compounding recent rises in electricity costs, according to plaintiffs. The lawsuit was filed by New Jersey and other states, arguing the freeze violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge's order aims to allow the continuation of vital clean energy projects.