A federal judge blocked a set of Trump administration permitting rules that renewable-energy developers say have hampered construction of solar and wind power projects.
The preliminary injunction, issued Tuesday, is the latest victory in the industry’s response to President Donald Trump’s efforts to sideline alternative power sources, including the since-blocked orders halting construction at five offshore wind farms and a separate order stopping wind project approvals.
US District Judge Denise Casper of the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts said the US Interior Department, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers failed to offer clear rationale for the new rules, which single out solar and wind developers. She blocked them from implementing five actions against the plaintiff groups.
The groups are likely to succeed on the merits of at least some of their Administrative Procedure Act claims and demonstrated they’d suffer irreparable harm without the order, Casper said in an opinion accompanying the order.
The renewable industry groups said the stakes of the case extend far beyond the wind and solar projects, noting that future administrations could use the same playbook to target other energy sources.
The renewable industry groups are represented by Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, and the government is represented by the Department of Justice.
Renew Northeast v. US Dep’t of the Interior, D. Mass., No. 1:25-cv-13961, preliminary injunction 4/21/26.
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