A U.S. district judge has invalidated a 2020 executive order that barred federal agencies from approving new wind energy projects on public lands, ruling it exceeded presidential authority. The decision unblocks 12 wind developments totaling 3.2 gigawatts of capacity across Nevada, Arizona, and California.
- 12 wind projects totaling 3.2 GW are now eligible for resumption of federal approval
- Judge ruled Trump's 2020 executive order exceeded presidential authority
- Alta Wind II (800 MW) and Mojave Sky (600 MW) are among the affected projects
- Wind sector stocks rose 3.6%–4.2% in after-hours trading post-ruling
- Up to $6.8 billion in new investment and 14,000 jobs could be generated
- Decision strengthens judicial checks on executive environmental powers
A federal judge in Reno, Nevada, has declared unconstitutional a 2020 executive order that halted wind energy project approvals on federal public lands, citing overreach of executive power. The ruling, issued on December 8, 2025, invalidates a directive signed by former President Donald Trump that suspended all new wind development on federal acreage until a full environmental review was completed. The decision, made in a case brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club, restores regulatory authority to the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of the Interior. The court’s decision directly impacts 12 proposed wind energy projects that had been stalled since 2021. These projects, located in Nevada, Arizona, and California, collectively represent 3.2 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy generation capacity—enough to power over 1 million homes annually. Among them are the 800-megawatt Alta Wind II project in Kern County, California, and the 600-megawatt Mojave Sky project in eastern Nevada. Developers now have a pathway to resume permitting, with expected construction starts within the next 18 months. The ruling is expected to boost investment in the wind sector, particularly among developers focused on utility-scale projects in the Southwest. Stock prices of wind infrastructure firms such as Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY) and Siemens Energy (SIEGY) rose by 4.2% and 3.6% respectively in after-hours trading following the decision. Meanwhile, the American Clean Power Association reported that over $6.8 billion in project funding could now be unlocked, with 14,000 construction jobs potentially created by 2030. The decision also sets a precedent for future environmental policy decisions, reinforcing judicial oversight of executive actions that interfere with federal agency rulemaking. It may prompt additional legal challenges to other energy-related executive orders issued during the previous administration.