Pentagon reviews are blocking wind farms, putting jobs at risk, lawsuit says

The lawsuit contends that Pentagon reviews for wind-energy projects on private land have effectively stalled for months, threatening about $47 billion in investments and thousands of jobs across 21 states. Filed in U.S. District Court in Oregon by nine groups including Renewable Northwest and the Advanced Power Alliance, the complaint targets the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over what the plaintiffs call a sustained policy of inaction. They argue the Pentagon's wind-siting clearinghouse is delaying final approvals while interagency reviews are coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration. The filing notes the political context, including President Trump's hostility to wind power and offshore leases.

An economic analysis by Charles River Associates, cited by the plaintiffs, estimates 106 wind projects are affected by the delays, based on FAA verification data. The groups say countersigning of final agreements stopped in August 2025 and that the process gradually slowed through April, with the first quarter of 2026 marked as the slowest start for wind reviews in memory. The case highlights the tension between national security considerations and renewable-energy growth at a time when wind accounts for about 10% of U.S. electricity and is the largest renewable-energy source, while solar continues to expand.