ELR Citation: 55 ELR 20162
No(s). 25-cv-11221-PBS (D. Mass. Dec 8, 2025) (Saris, J.)

A district court granted summary judgment for 17 states, the District of Columbia, and a nonprofit group in a challenge to federal agencies' orders implementing a presidential memorandum that directed the agencies to suspend authorizations for development of onshore and offshore wind energy projects. Plaintiffs argued the orders, which imposed an immediate pause on all wind energy authorizations, were arbitrary and capricious, contrary to law, and in excess of statutory authority. The court found the orders were final agency action subject to judicial review because they represented final word from the federal government despite being characterized as "interim" and gave rise to direct and appreciable legal consequences, and were arbitrary and capricious because the agencies did not reasonably consider relevant issues nor reasonably explain their decisions to implement the orders. The court granted summary judgment and vacated the orders in their entirety.