Pentagon accused of sneaky dodge around judge’s order to restart wind projects: report

Wind energy companies and their allies say the Pentagon is stalling projects despite a court order to restart reviews, according to The Washington Sun.

In a lawsuit by trade groups, wind developers, and environmental organizations, a judge directed the Defense Department in August to get stalled projects moving. This week, the plaintiffs told the court the agency is “maintaining its review freeze through new mechanisms” and asked the judge to enforce the order.

Their filing says none of the agreements negotiated earlier with wind projects has been signed. Instead, they allege, the Pentagon wrote a new 119-page mitigation agreement, far longer than the roughly 20-page version it used before, with added requirements like vetting personnel and supply chains. The plaintiffs argue those terms don’t address the radar and drone worries the agency cites.

Developers with projects at earlier stages of review have mostly been told to wait, and some have abandoned or changed course, the plaintiffs say.

The Pentagon, which is reviewing over 300 wind projects, says it needed a freeze because of advancing “adversarial capabilities” and drone warfare in Iran and Ukraine. A government lawyer told the judge in late September that reviews had restarted but gave no examples of projects advancing, and federal lawyers have since said the agency is “processing” applications under a new methodology. They’ve asked the court to dismiss the case.

Punchbowl reported the White House said Thursday it would unblock two onshore projects, in Maine and South Dakota, to smooth the way for a permitting reform bill. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who had warned more obstruction of wind development could tank the bill, called it a “start.” The Pentagon didn’t say whether those projects have signed agreements.