Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Judge strikes down Trump's wind energy ban
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Tuesday, December 9th, 2025
The Lime Wind Energy Project in Oregon, Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])

A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump's order ([link removed]) blocking new wind projects on national public lands and waters, calling it "arbitrary and capricious." U.S. District Judge Patti Saris found that the administration failed to provide a reasoned explanation for freezing billions of dollars in projects, and said that the indefinite pause violated the Administrative Procedure Act ([link removed]) .

A coalition of 17 state attorneys general sued, saying Trump's order jeopardizes local economies and public health. Government lawyers argued that the day-one executive order was merely a "pause" on new permitting that allowed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to review wind projects.

Justice department attorneys "candidly concede that the sole factor they considered in deciding to stop issuing permits was the President’s direction to do so," Saris wrote ([link removed]) .

It's not clear whether the ruling will have a significant impact on future wind projects, however. The New York Times points out ([link removed]) that courts generally can't compel federal agencies to approve new projects.

The dirty truth about oil and gas drilling in New Mexico

In the latest episode ([link removed]) of CWP's podcast, The Landscape, Kate and Aaron are joined by filmmaker Annie Ersinghaus, rancher Don Schreiber, and Gail Evans, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity, to talk about the impact poorly regulated oil and gas extraction has on New Mexico’s environment. Gail and Don appear in Annie’s new film, The Land of Sacrifice: The Burden of New Mexico’s Oil and Gas Extraction ([link removed]) . Listen now ([link removed]) or subscribe on Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) .


** Quick hits
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Lawsuit tries to stop Wyoming man from hunting on public land on the way to his cabin

WyoFile ([link removed])

Ski film ‘Inaccessible’ looks at public land access from a skier’s perspective

Denver Gazette ([link removed])

Senators probe Burgum's $70k hiring bonus for U.S. Park Police

Government Executive ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])

How federal grazing permits benefit the wealthiest ranchers

NPR ([link removed])

Water across the West is at risk as Trump targets national monuments

High Country News ([link removed])

Forest Service looks to public land, local tax dollars to build workforce housing

WyoFile ([link removed])

Conservation groups sound alarm on BLM nominee with long land sell-off record

Nevada Current ([link removed]) | Northern Rockies News Service ([link removed])

In a Colorado town built on coal, families are moving on to clean energy

Associated Press ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” Maybe we’ll never go back to coal. We haven’t (gone) back to oil and gas, so we might just be geothermal people for quite some time, maybe generations, and then eventually something else will come along.”

—Matt Cooper, business owner in Craig, Colorado, Associated Press ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@mypubliclands ([link removed])
Who says a trip to the vault toilet can’t be a little inspiring? 😁

This fall in Montana, we teamed up with artist Rilie Zumbrennen to add eye-catching murals to the restrooms at Sundance Lodge Recreation Area and Shepherd Ah-Nei Recreation Area. Each mural celebrates the wildlife, scenery, and outdoor fun that make these spots worth a visit before you even hit the trail.

We’re excited to keep this colorful partnership going and bring more creativity to unexpected places.

📸Alex Nancarrow

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