On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down the freeze on federal permits for wind energy projects — a central component of the Wind Presidential Memorandum (the Wind Order) issued on the first day of the current administration. Judge Patti Saris’s opinion held that the Wind Order is arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and directed that it be vacated in full — meaning the ruling applies nationally. The decision was previewed in the court’s preliminary order in July indicating that the Wind Order was on shaky legal ground, citing a lack of administrative record to support the Wind Order and precedent from cases involving analogous moratoriums for offshore oil and gas. Despite the major win for wind, though, there is still significant uncertainty regarding how this administration will respond to the ruling and how it will affect wind energy permitting going forward.