News

Federal ruling restores green light for wind energy development

Federal ruling restores green light for wind energy development

Photo: Metro Services, Saga Communications


OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A recent ruling is clearing the way for wind energy projects to move forward in Washington.

A federal court dismissed an appeal by the Trump administration on Monday, June 15, unfreezing federal permitting for wind energy projects.

President Trump issued an order in January 2025 to indefinitely pause all federal approval for wind energy projects pending review. Washington and 16 other states sued several months later before a federal judge ruled in favor of the coalition last December.

According to Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown, the indefinite freeze threatened Washington’s ability to meet its climate-related goals.

He also said it jeopardized an increasingly important sector of the state’s economy, as wind power is the second biggest contributor to Washington’s renewable energy generation.

“Wind energy is an essential option for delivering clean energy jobs and cheaper, cleaner power to Washingtonians as we transition from dirtier, more expensive fuels,” Brown said in a statement.

Recent Headlines

3 hours ago in Crime, Local, Trending

Bellingham man accused of intentionally setting fire to his Barkley Village apartment

Witnesses extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived, no one was injured.

4 hours ago in Dedicated To Service, Local, Outdoors, Trending

South Whatcom Fire Authority to limit emergency response outside jurisdiction

Response times could rise around Lake Whatcom, Lookout Mountain, Chuckanut Mountain and parts of Galbraith Mountain.

7 hours ago in Dedicated To Service, Lifestyle, Local

Affordable housing development opens for families near Bellis Fair Mall

Additional housing for seniors will be available when Phase 2 of the project ends in spring 2027.

7 hours ago in Business, Elections, Local, Trending

Signatures submitted for rental price fixing initiative in Bellingham

If the signatures are verified, the initiative would be placed on the November general election ballot.

13 hours ago in Sports

Play is underway in ideal conditions on the opening day of Wimbledon

Among the early matches on the opening day of the grass-court Grand Slam: Fourth-seeded Jessica Pegula beat Darja Vidmanova 7-5, 6-3; rising Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar, in his Wimbledon debut, beat Felix Gill 6-3, 6-3, 7-5; and French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska, who needed a wild-card entry, was beaten 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 by Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

Bellingham Traffic