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US Judge Orders Defense Department to Resume Wind Project Reviews

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A federal judge ordered the US Defense Department to resume reviews of onshore wind energy projects after granting a preliminary injunction against the agency's review freeze, according to a court ruling issued Thursday.

US District Judge Karin Immergut ruled the Defense Department's review freeze likely violated statutory and regulatory deadlines, denied the agency's motion to dismiss, and directed it to restart reviews of proposed wind projects while the lawsuit proceeds.

The ruling requires the Defense Department to resume evaluating whether proposed wind projects interfere with military operations and submit status updates to the court every 30 days detailing the progress of those reviews.

Sierra Club, which filed an amicus brief supporting the challenge, said the Defense Department's review freeze created a "de facto moratorium" on new wind projects and delayed renewable energy development.

The organization also said a separate lawsuit filed by 18 state attorneys general challenging the same review freeze is moving through the courts.

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US Judge Orders Defense Department to Resume Wind Project Reviews | FINWIRES