A federal judge in Massachusetts on April 21, 2026, struck down Trump administration guidance restricting solar and wind energy development, blocking five separate policy actions that had effectively halted permitting for renewable projects nationwide.
Chief Judge Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction after finding that a coalition of clean energy developers and trade associations were likely to succeed in their legal challenge and would face irreparable harm without court intervention.
The ruling halts enforcement of Interior Department review procedures that required all solar and wind projects on federal lands and waters to receive personal approval from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a requirement the administration imposed in July 2025. The injunction also blocks a land order that effectively barred wind and solar projects by requiring consideration of project “capacity density” during permitting, an Army Corps of Engineers memo prioritizing high-capacity-density projects, restrictions on the use of the Information for Planning and Consultation website by developers, and a legal opinion that effectively bars new offshore wind projects.
According to a report cited by the judge, about 57.2 gigawatts of wind, solar, hybrid and offshore wind capacity had been canceled or faced delay beyond 2029 due to the agencies’ actions, representing approximately $905 million in capital already invested in projects. The judge noted that the agencies’ actions jeopardize between $8.4 billion and $25.6 billion in federal tax credits for renewable energy development.
Judge Casper wrote that “the public interest favors preliminary relief” because the administration’s actions “harm the public by delaying and preventing the development of wind and solar energy projects in the United States, which in turn threatens the public’s vital interest in maintaining a reliable, affordable, and resilient power grid, which is currently struggling to meet record energy demand.” The plaintiffs argued that the administration’s policies violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
The ruling represents the latest legal setback for the Trump administration’s effort to curtail renewable energy development. In January 2026, a federal court ruled the administration had unlawfully cut clean energy grants. In February, a judge issued a preliminary injunction lifting a work-stop order on an Ørsted offshore wind project. The April ruling marks at least the fifth major court victory for renewable energy advocates challenging Trump administration restrictions.
A coalition of nine regional wind and solar developers and trade associations brought the lawsuit in December 2025, accusing the administration of deliberately changing longstanding agency processes to delay and prevent renewable energy permitting and construction. The plaintiffs include the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, MAREC Action, Southern Renewable Energy Association, Clean Grid Alliance, Interwest Energy Alliance, Renewable Northwest, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, RENEW Northeast, and Green Energy Consumers Alliance.
An Interior Department spokesperson said the department does not comment on litigation. The Trump administration has stated that its policies aim to prioritize fossil fuels and other reliable baseload generation to lower costs and maintain U.S. global leadership in energy production.
Sources
- CT Mirror — Details of Judge Casper’s ruling and the Interior Department’s personal approval requirement for solar and wind projects
- ESG Dive — Information on the 57.2 gigawatt capacity affected, $905 million in invested capital, and $8.4-$25.6 billion in jeopardized tax credits
- E2 (Economy+Environment) — The April 21, 2026 ruling details and impact on clean energy development
- The New York Times — Judge Casper’s findings on irreparable harm and the judge’s reasoning
