U.S. courts issue rulings on climate litigation and wind energy reviews

U.S. courts have issued two significant rulings impacting energy policy and environmental litigation.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a petition for en banc review in Lighthiser v. Trump, upholding a previous dismissal of a lawsuit brought by 22 youth climate activists. The plaintiffs had challenged executive orders aimed at expanding domestic energy production, supporting coal, and reducing permitting barriers. While the Montana District Court had previously acknowledged evidence of climate change as a “children’s health emergency,” it ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to challenge the administration's energy agenda.

In a separate development, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction against the Department of Defense, ordering the agency to end a freeze on wind energy project reviews. The freeze had halted more than 100 proposed projects, which were estimated to provide 46,000 megawatts of electricity capacity. Environmental groups argued the pause acted as a de facto ban on new wind development, and the court's decision aims to restore the legally required federal review process for these infrastructure projects.