California files lawsuit against Trump administration over wind energy

May 6, 2025

Floating windmill designs

By KAREN VELIE

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump Administration’s alleged “unlawful attempt to freeze the development of offshore wind energy,” according to Bonta’s office.

On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting new offshore wind leases in federal waters while pausing current leases, such as the three charters off the coast of Morro Bay. While the Secretary of the Interior examines existing wind energy leases, agencies are barred from issuing or renewing approvals, rights of way, permits or loans for both onshore and offshore wind projects.

A coalition of 18 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration arguing the order halting wind energy projects is unlawful and endangers the development of a crucial renewable energy source.

The lawsuit alleges that Trump’s order violates multiple federal laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act. The attorneys generals are asking the court to declare the order illegal and to prevent the administration from taking any action to delay or prevent wind energy development.

“The Trump Administration’s directive to halt the development of offshore wind energy is illegal,” Bonta said. “This reckless directive will not only reverse America’s progress in clean energy initiatives, but our communities will also suffer the economic consequences of the president’s misguided lawlessness. The president has promised that his actions would lower energy costs, but instead, energy prices have only gone up and will continue to skyrocket.”

In 2022, the federal government auctioned off three offshore wind energy sites located between 20 and 30 miles off the coast of Morro Bay. The goal was to have the windmills in the water by 2030.

While the majority of San Luis Obispo County residents initially supported the “green energy” projects, sentiments changed as information regarding plans to industrialize Port San Luis near Avila Beach and portions of the Morro Bay waterfront spread through the community.

Industrialization of the proposed Central Coast ports would have significant impacts on the local economy, the fishing industry and ecosystems. The support systems on land would include massive piers, and could require new breakwaters and dredging.

 


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Amazing how the parties have flipped. Demonrats now want to pollute and ruin our coast and beautiful Avila beach, in the name of the green scam. EVERYBODY knows this is a BAD IDEA. It’s a huge money grab by evil people. Dems are now the party of Dick Cheney and George Bush! That should be a clue it’s become the party of evil. Trump, Elon, RFK and Gabbi all used to be dems, you know back when dems were rational. Our political world is upside down now. Don’t be tribal, figure out the truth, explore multiple sources. And FIGHT


The fossil fuel industry and the nuclear industry continued to spread anti-wind energy propaganda to sway public opinion. This is well documented. Do the research. Many people comment here have been fooled by the propaganda. Sorry.


The final dispositor of the nesting doll construct behind this wind project IS AN OIL COMPANY. And they stand to make ridiculous money whilst they destroy our coastline. The BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) has stated that this project will do NOTHING to improve climate change. Which suggests it will pollute as much as any other project, in the long run. Not a good way to “Go Green”. There are better cheaper ways. We should not let them screw us and our precious environment on this project.


Yes, IT can be said for both sides. But bottom line, most people are not that deft to believe everything they hear. We all know who is behind the propaganda,, both sides! I like the idea of windfarms, but in the right area. NOT where the sea life pay the price and consequences for our Greedy Energy Hunger. NOT One source of “energy” is actually “Green”, just less damaging than another.


ya, just look at how well wind and solar are working out in Europe… Germany is a DISASTER, UK and Ireland have big problems when the wind slows, Spain and Portugal had a huge outage due to the loss of electric momentum in their grid when these “renewables” slow. Take a look at who wants this and why – it’s an evil money grab without a care in the world about our beaches, whales and fisheries and the grid. Where is this working well now? Nowhere! Don’t be fooled California, the evil politicians are not working for us.


California suing the federal government over this will surely make it to the supreme court. And the state will then have to “prove” that offshore wind farms are not harmful to the marine environment and do not help prevent climate change. In fact this might even help expose the whole climate change myth!

They will also have to prove the OSW farms do not negatively effect economic and national security.

If the subsidies stop so will large scale wind energy projects. If people want to pay for and install a wind turbine or solar panels on there own property that is a good idea. Large scale projects not so much.


The Country elected Trump for a reason, get out of his and the People’s way.


Mr. Newsom… hold a vote of your citizens and see if they want these stupid windmills and if they want to sue Trump every week….