RI AG Joins 17 Of His Colleagues Suing Trump Administration Over Wind Energy Freeze

RHODE ISLAND – Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha joined 17 other attorney generals in suing President Donald Trump's administration over an executive order that freezes federal approval of wind energy projects.

"Despite its affinity for hot air, this administration’s attack on wind is not unexpected," Neronha said. "Mere hours after taking office, this president issued an executive order reaffirming his commitment to dismantling substantial clean energy progress in this country. The development and implementation of renewable energy resources, including wind energy, is a crucial part of stabilizing energy prices at a time when Rhode Islanders are struggling to pay skyrocketing energy bills."

"Further, the continued development of wind energy will help us meet our state’s Act on Climate goals, provide quality jobs for Rhode Islanders, and help maintain a habitable planet for generations to come," Neronha added. "We can’t afford any setbacks when it comes to climate, and we will fight to make sure our progress isn’t lost."

On Jan. 20, Trump issued a presidential memorandum that indefinitely halted all federal approvals necessary for the development of offshore and onshore wind energy projects. Pursuant to this directive, federal agencies have stopped all permitting and approval activities, and in one case, have even stopped a fully permitted project in New York that had already begun construction, Neronha said.

Neronha said wind energy is a homegrown source of reliable, affordable energy that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, creates billions of dollars in economic activity and tax payments, and supplies more than 10 percent of the country’s electricity.

In the lawsuit, the attorney generals argue Trump's directive harms their states’ efforts to secure reliable, diversified, and affordable sources of energy to meet their increasing demand for electricity and help reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants, meet clean energy goals, and address climate change. They also argue the directive threatens to thwart the states’ significant investments in wind industry infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce development — investments that already total billions of dollars.

In filing this lawsuit, the attorneys general are asking the court to declare the Trump's directive illegal and prevent the administration from taking any action to delay or prevent wind energy development.

Joining Neronha in filing this lawsuit were the attorney generals of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington.

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