WASHINGTON, D.C. — Emphasizing the environmental, affordability, reliability, and public health benefits of wind and solar resources, the National Wildlife Federation and a group of conservation groups filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit against the Trump Administration responding to six final agency actions that interfere with wind and solar permitting.

"As demand for affordable power increases, targeting proven and reliable clean energy resources by relegating them to a lesser permitting status will harm our planet and prevent consumer rates from stabilizing," said Jim Murphy, senior director of legal advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation. “Responsible wind and solar projects are not only essential to address the emerging energy crisis, but also to protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions from high polluting power production. Meeting our nation's energy needs and climate goals is only possible if wind and solar are allowed to permit and operate with the same legal standing as other energy sources.”

The brief focuses specifically on the capacity density restrictions of SO 3438 and the USACE Energy Guidance, and the Eagle Take Permit Ban under the Administrative Procedure Act's standard of reasoned decision making and conforming to law.

Plaintiffs of the original lawsuit include Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, Southern Renewable Energy Association, Clean Grid Alliance, Interwest Energy Alliance, Renewable Northwest, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, and Renew Northeast.

"Certain agencies are pursuing a concerted and illegal strategy to choke the ability of private developers’ ability to build new and much-needed energy generation projects,” the plaintiffs said in their original complaint. "Wind and solar are affordable forms of energy that can be quickly deployed on private or public lands to meet the Nation’s growing energy demand and reduce costs for consumers."