Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is joining 18 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration for halting the development of wind energy.

Trump issued a memorandum on Jan. 20 that indefinitely halted all federal approvals necessary for the development of offshore and onshore wind energy projects pending federal review. Campbell said that federal agencies have since stopped all permitting and approval work.

The attorneys general are asking a judge to declare the president's directive illegal and prevent the administration from taking any action to delay or prevent wind energy development.

"Massachusetts has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into offshore wind to ensure our residents have access to well-paying green jobs and reliable, affordable energy that helps meet our clean energy and climate goals," Campbell said in a statement. "The president’s attempts to stop homegrown wind energy development directly contradict his claims that there is a growing need for reliable domestic energy. "


Massachusetts lawmakers passed a measure in 2022, setting 2050 as a target for achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the state has three different offshore wind projects in development and Campbell said the indefinite halt on federal approvals endangers the industry, which has already invested more than $330 million.

Other states participating in the lawsuit are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.