A coalition of 19 attorneys general has moved to intervene in a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense (DoD) and Secretary Pete Hegseth over the agency's suspension of reviews for land-based wind energy projects. The coalition argues that federal law requires the DoD to review proposed wind projects for potential national security impacts and work with developers to resolve any concerns. However, since August 2025, the DoD has halted routine reviews, effectively preventing the development of onshore wind projects across the USA.
According to the attorneys general, more than 100 onshore wind projects with a combined capacity exceeding 29 GW have been delayed by the freeze. Around 37 of those projects are located in, or would supply electricity to, the states involved in the legal action.
The coalition contends that the suspension is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. They argue that the DoD has failed to justify the policy change, assess its impact on states, developers, workers and electricity consumers, or consider investments made under the long-established review process.
The attorneys general are asking the court to set aside the suspension and require the DoD to resume the review and approval process for onshore wind projects in accordance with federal law.
The coalition includes the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and the District of Columbia.
