Connecticut News from your locally owned & operated news source at the state Capitol since 2005.
HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in moving to intervene in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary Pete Hegseth for unlawfully freezing routine reviews of land-based wind energy projects across the country.
Federal law requires the department to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concerns and work with developers to address any issues.
In August 2025, the department stopped moving projects through this process, blocking wind energy development nationwide Tong said. The coalition is asking the court to set aside the freeze and order the agency to resume the review process required by federal law.
“The Trump administration is once again standing in the way of affordable, clean, reliable energy for no valid reason,” Tong said. “We are asking the Department of Defense to do the job Congress requires and to review these projects under a process that has been in place for years.”
The freeze on projects drives up costs and makes it harder to build the needed energy infrastructure, Tong said.
Under federal law, land-based wind project developers must submit any proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall to the Federal Aviation Administration for review. The FAA then refers these projects to defense department to assess whether they could affect military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. For more than a decade, department engaged in a predictable review process and worked with developers to mitigate potential concerns, Tong said. Mitigation measures often included changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, defense officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation, Tong said. As a result, wind projects across the country have been frozen at various stages of the review process, including those that had already completed mitigation negotiations and were awaiting only final approval.
Tong and the coalition argue that the freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The department has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process, Tong said. The coalition also argues that the department’s refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress’ directive that the department balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
In addition to Connecticut, those intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
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Federal law requires the department to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concerns and work with developers to address any issues.
In August 2025, the department stopped moving projects through this process, blocking wind energy development nationwide Tong said. The coalition is asking the court to set aside the freeze and order the agency to resume the review process required by federal law.
“The Trump administration is once again standing in the way of affordable, clean, reliable energy for no valid reason,” Tong said. “We are asking the Department of Defense to do the job Congress requires and to review these projects under a process that has been in place for years.”
The freeze on projects drives up costs and makes it harder to build the needed energy infrastructure, Tong said.
Under federal law, land-based wind project developers must submit any proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall to the Federal Aviation Administration for review. The FAA then refers these projects to defense department to assess whether they could affect military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. For more than a decade, department engaged in a predictable review process and worked with developers to mitigate potential concerns, Tong said. Mitigation measures often included changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, defense officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation, Tong said. As a result, wind projects across the country have been frozen at various stages of the review process, including those that had already completed mitigation negotiations and were awaiting only final approval.
Tong and the coalition argue that the freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The department has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process, Tong said. The coalition also argues that the department’s refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress’ directive that the department balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
In addition to Connecticut, those intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
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In August 2025, the department stopped moving projects through this process, blocking wind energy development nationwide Tong said. The coalition is asking the court to set aside the freeze and order the agency to resume the review process required by federal law.
“The Trump administration is once again standing in the way of affordable, clean, reliable energy for no valid reason,” Tong said. “We are asking the Department of Defense to do the job Congress requires and to review these projects under a process that has been in place for years.”
The freeze on projects drives up costs and makes it harder to build the needed energy infrastructure, Tong said.
Under federal law, land-based wind project developers must submit any proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall to the Federal Aviation Administration for review. The FAA then refers these projects to defense department to assess whether they could affect military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. For more than a decade, department engaged in a predictable review process and worked with developers to mitigate potential concerns, Tong said. Mitigation measures often included changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, defense officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation, Tong said. As a result, wind projects across the country have been frozen at various stages of the review process, including those that had already completed mitigation negotiations and were awaiting only final approval.
Tong and the coalition argue that the freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The department has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process, Tong said. The coalition also argues that the department’s refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress’ directive that the department balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
In addition to Connecticut, those intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
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by Donald Eng
June 10, 2026, 3:44 pmJune 10, 2026, 6:10 pm
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The freeze on projects drives up costs and makes it harder to build the needed energy infrastructure, Tong said.
Under federal law, land-based wind project developers must submit any proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall to the Federal Aviation Administration for review. The FAA then refers these projects to defense department to assess whether they could affect military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. For more than a decade, department engaged in a predictable review process and worked with developers to mitigate potential concerns, Tong said. Mitigation measures often included changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, defense officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation, Tong said. As a result, wind projects across the country have been frozen at various stages of the review process, including those that had already completed mitigation negotiations and were awaiting only final approval.
Tong and the coalition argue that the freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The department has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process, Tong said. The coalition also argues that the department’s refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress’ directive that the department balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
In addition to Connecticut, those intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
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by Aman Azhar, Inside Climate News
June 16, 2026, 4:30 am
Lamont Campaign: Energy Cost Plans Include More Competition And Change To PURA’s Guidelines
by Donald Eng
June 10, 2026, 3:44 pmJune 10, 2026, 6:10 pm
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May 6, 2026, 9:47 pmMay 6, 2026, 9:47 pm
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by Jamil Ragland
May 2, 2026, 9:48 pmMay 2, 2026, 9:51 pm
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by Alison F. Takemura for Canary Media
April 20, 2026, 4:45 amApril 20, 2026, 2:40 pm
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by Jamil Ragland
April 16, 2026, 5:00 amApril 16, 2026, 3:39 pm
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by Dan McCarthy, Canary Media
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Under federal law, land-based wind project developers must submit any proposed projects with wind turbines over 200 feet tall to the Federal Aviation Administration for review. The FAA then refers these projects to defense department to assess whether they could affect military operations, radar systems, flight paths, or national security. For more than a decade, department engaged in a predictable review process and worked with developers to mitigate potential concerns, Tong said. Mitigation measures often included changes to turbine placement or height, radar upgrades, or agreements to pause generation under certain circumstances.
In August 2025, defense officials ceased countersigning mitigation agreements, stopped sending completed agreements to developers for signature, and delayed or halted communications with developers about mitigation, Tong said. As a result, wind projects across the country have been frozen at various stages of the review process, including those that had already completed mitigation negotiations and were awaiting only final approval.
Tong and the coalition argue that the freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The department has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process, Tong said. The coalition also argues that the department’s refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress’ directive that the department balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
In addition to Connecticut, those intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
RELATED
Trump Administration Abandons Fight Against Wind Energy as Clean Energy Output Surges
by Aman Azhar, Inside Climate News
June 16, 2026, 4:30 am
Lamont Campaign: Energy Cost Plans Include More Competition And Change To PURA’s Guidelines
by Donald Eng
June 10, 2026, 3:44 pmJune 10, 2026, 6:10 pm
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by Donald Eng
May 6, 2026, 9:47 pmMay 6, 2026, 9:47 pm
General Assembly Passes Solar, Labor Bills As Session Winds Down
by Jamil Ragland
May 2, 2026, 9:48 pmMay 2, 2026, 9:51 pm
What To Know Before You Get Balcony Solar
by Alison F. Takemura for Canary Media
April 20, 2026, 4:45 amApril 20, 2026, 2:40 pm
Report: Clean Energy Sector Job Growth Outpaces CT Average
by Jamil Ragland
April 16, 2026, 5:00 amApril 16, 2026, 3:39 pm
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by Dan McCarthy, Canary Media
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Tong and the coalition argue that the freeze is unlawful, arbitrary and capricious, and violates the Administrative Procedure Act. The department has not provided a reasonable explanation for its sudden change in policy, accounted for the harm to states, developers, workers, and ratepayers, or considered the major investments made in reliance on its longstanding review process, Tong said. The coalition also argues that the department’s refusal to act is causing unreasonable delay and undermining Congress’ directive that the department balance national security concerns with the responsible development of renewable energy. They are asking the court to require the agency to resume reviewing and approving land-based wind projects.
In addition to Connecticut, those intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
RELATED
Trump Administration Abandons Fight Against Wind Energy as Clean Energy Output Surges
by Aman Azhar, Inside Climate News
June 16, 2026, 4:30 am
Lamont Campaign: Energy Cost Plans Include More Competition And Change To PURA’s Guidelines
by Donald Eng
June 10, 2026, 3:44 pmJune 10, 2026, 6:10 pm
General Assembly Passes Solar Energy Bill On Last Day Of Session
by Donald Eng
May 6, 2026, 9:47 pmMay 6, 2026, 9:47 pm
General Assembly Passes Solar, Labor Bills As Session Winds Down
by Jamil Ragland
May 2, 2026, 9:48 pmMay 2, 2026, 9:51 pm
What To Know Before You Get Balcony Solar
by Alison F. Takemura for Canary Media
April 20, 2026, 4:45 amApril 20, 2026, 2:40 pm
Report: Clean Energy Sector Job Growth Outpaces CT Average
by Jamil Ragland
April 16, 2026, 5:00 amApril 16, 2026, 3:39 pm
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by Dan McCarthy, Canary Media
April 10, 2026, 9:35 amApril 24, 2026, 5:52 pm
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by Jeff St. John for Canary Media
April 7, 2026, 4:45 amApril 24, 2026, 5:52 pm
In addition to Connecticut, those intervening in this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.