Trump is losing his war on wind power

A court rules that a hold on all wind projects clearly violates the law.

A recent US District Court ruling in Oregon has reignited the battle against wind power in the United States. Since August 2025, all new wind development has been halted as the Department of Defense (DoD) withdrew from a crucial process that allows it to modify projects to minimize interference with radar equipment. The court ruled that the DoD's national security arguments did not justify its withdrawal from this legally mandated process.

The Trump administration has long sought to restrict wind development, both offshore and on land, using arguments about drone operations and radar interference. However, these claims have faced repeated legal setbacks, as courts have dismissed the DoD's arguments, even when presented with classified reports. Desperate to halt wind energy growth, the administration resorted to offering financial incentives to companies to refrain from pursuing wind projects.

Meanwhile, the government also ignored its legal duty to assess potential wind turbine issues and engage in negotiations with developers through a established process. By ceasing to participate in this process since August 2025, the administration effectively stopped all wind development in the US. This legal victory for wind power advocates marks a significant setback for the Trump administration's aggressive efforts to stifle renewable energy sources.

Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.