A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that construction of an almost-complete offshore wind project in Massachusetts can move forward, overruling a freeze imposed by the Trump administration in December.
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Construction of a major offshore wind plant can resume, a judge in Massachussets ordered on Tuesday, marking the fourth such ruling this month.
Judge Brian Murphy of the US District Court in Boston said Vineyard Wind, an offshore wind energy project located about 24 kilometers south off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, can go ahead. He cited the potential economic losses arising from delays in constructors and the developers’ strong likelihood of succeeding on their legal claim, AP reported.
The Trump administration ordered the halt of five major offshore wind projects in December, citing national security threats. Four of these projects, including Vineyard Wind, have since been allowed to resume construction.
Earlier this month, US District Judge Royce Lamberth allowed Danish wind farm developer Orsted to move forward with the construction of a $5 billion wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island. Lamberth dismissed the administration’s national security claims, calling them “arbitrary and capricious.” He also ruled that Orsted’s project would face “irreparable harm” if delays continued.
President Trump has frequently criticized wind energy and sought to block the expansion of offshore wind in federal waters. He has called turbines “pathethic and so bad” and falsely claimed that they are killing people. He has often claimed that wind energy is “the most expensive form of energy,” even though it is significantly cheaper than any fossil fuel both in terms of manufacturing and electricity generation.
Back-to-Back Court Defeats
Earlier this month, a judge at the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the administration’s decision to halt millions of dollars in clean energy grants was “unlawful” as it primarily targeted projects in Democratic-led states. It came after the Energy Department abruptedly halted more than $7.5 billion in funding for 223 clean energy projects in October.
“All the awardees (but one) were based in states whose majority of citizens casting votes did not support President Trump in the 2024 election,” Judge Amit P. Mehta said. “[T]he political identity of a terminated grantee’s state…played a preponderant role in the October 2025 grant termination decisions.”
The judge also instructed the administration to restore the grants and cover the plaintiffs’ legal fees.
The Trump administration is embroiled in other legal battles revolving around halted climate funds. One of them concerns $20 billion in grants awarded by the Biden administration to eight organizations tasked with financing thousands of climate projects across the country, especially in low-income and disadvantaged communities, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) abruptedly halted last February.
More on the topic: Two Courts Block Trump Administration’s Attempt to Halt Clean Energy Projects
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