Maine Labor Climate Council Applauds Federal Court Ruling Striking Down President Trump’s Unlawful Wind Ban

A federal judge last month struck down President Trump’s executive order freezing offshore wind permitting, ruling that the administration overstepped its authority when it halted all approvals on day one of the new term. In August, the Maine Labor Climate Council (MLCC) joined other climate jobs coalitions in filing an amicus brief supporting that case. The MLCC released the following statement:  

“This ruling is essential for families in Maine and across the country who are struggling to pay their bills, electricity and energy costs chief among them. President Trump’s unpopular and illegal wind ban undercut the ability of Maine and New England to become energy independent and stabilize electricity prices for working families. It left nearly completed wind projects abandoned offshore in other parts of New England, stalled critical port development in Maine, laid off thousands of workers, and kept a large amount of clean power off of the grid that could have brought hundreds of millions of dollars of savings to households across the region.  

“Union members in Maine invested in specialized training to prepare for offshore wind – training made possible by hundreds of thousands of dollars in union-backed workforce development. These workers are ready to build the next generation of clean, reliable power. Political interference took those job opportunities away. Offshore wind is one of our strongest tools to stabilize long-term electricity costs, meet extreme-weather energy peaks and protect families and businesses from energy price spikes. In New England, wind power is strongest precisely when winter temperatures drop and demand is highest. At a moment when the U.S. faces a massive spike in electricity demand, we should be expanding and diversifying energy supply, not cutting off reliable American sources.  

“We thank Attorney General Aaron Frey and the coalition of attorneys general for their leadership in holding the federal government accountable and defending a clean energy future that benefits working people.”