Key facts
- California and New York are suing the Trump administration over its plan to buy back offshore wind leases.
- The administration is offering billions to companies to cancel wind projects.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James called the deals illegal and said they would increase electricity bills.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated the state is committed to climate action despite federal opposition.
- The Interior Department started buying back leases after courts thwarted Trump's efforts to stop offshore wind development.
Democratic attorneys general from California and New York have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging its decision to buy back offshore wind leases. The administration's plan aims to halt the expansion of wind energy, favoring fossil fuels instead. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated his state is suing over the removal of a project off its coast planned by Invenergy. The Trump administration announced in June its intention to repurchase US offshore wind leases for four projects located on both the east and west coasts.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside seven other states, is leading legal efforts to block the Invenergy deal and another proposal involving Bluepoint Wind. These agreements would result in energy companies receiving approximately $1.4 billion in taxpayer funds in exchange for canceling multiple projects. The Trump administration has committed nearly $4 billion in total to companies to abandon their wind energy developments across the country.
The Interior Department initiated the buyback of offshore wind leases in March, following unsuccessful attempts by the administration to halt offshore wind development through executive actions that were thwarted by federal courts. In return for reimbursements of lease fees, companies are reportedly redirecting investments toward fossil fuel and geothermal energy projects. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has stated that these shifts are aimed at investing in "dependable, secure energy infrastructure that can power our economy and lower utility costs."
James criticized the deals as illegal, asserting they would ultimately lead to higher electricity bills for Americans by undermining states' capacity to meet escalating energy demands. She stated, "Americans are facing increasing energy costs because this administration would rather pay off energy companies than let us build the new power sources we need." Bonta highlighted California's commitment to climate action, noting the state's role as a leader in combating climate change and its "unavoidable and unnecessary battles with our own federal government" to advance clean energy initiatives. Speaking at a Climate Week event, Bonta emphasized the need for climate action to be as urgent and aggressive as the problem itself, stating, "Because we have to go to court and block an unlawful action by the Trump administration each time, it takes time. It slows the process down and we know we are running out of time and we need to be urgent and aggressive."
California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild remarked at a Climate Week panel that states retain significant power in driving the transition away from fossil fuels, suggesting that while Trump can impede progress, "he can’t put the genie back in the bottle." New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President Doreen Harris expressed confidence in the eventual success of these legal challenges, emphasizing the need for energy infrastructure to ensure a reliable grid and stating, "We just want to get back to building."