California Plans Suit Over $120 Million Golden State Wind Buyout as Trump Expands Lease Cancellations
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 23
California Plans Suit Over $120 Million Golden State Wind Buyout as Trump Expands Lease Cancellations
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 23
Summary
California sent the Interior Department a 60-day notice of intent to sue over the Golden State Wind agreement, arguing the federal government unlawfully paid to terminate the offshore project.
The deal lets Golden State Wind recover about $120 million in lease fees if an equal amount is invested in Gulf Coast oil and gas assets, infrastructure or projects.
State officials say the buyback threatens California’s offshore wind plan—25 gigawatts by 2045, enough to power roughly 25 million homes—and could undercut more than $100 million already spent preparing ports and transmission systems.
Interior has now spent nearly $2.6 billion on similar agreements, stopping eight offshore wind projects as the administration pushes companies toward fossil fuels and geothermal after courts blocked broader executive efforts to halt wind development.
The California fight adds to widening resistance: New York is already suing over a nearly $1 billion TotalEnergies lease-refund deal, and Democrats in Congress are investigating the program.
How will canceling wind projects affect America's energy security amid rising global tensions and volatile oil prices?
California Sues Trump Administration Over $2.65 Billion Offshore Wind Cancellations: Legal Showdown Threatens State’s Clean Energy Future
Overview
California is preparing to sue the Trump administration after a controversial $120 million buyout canceled a major offshore wind lease off Morro Bay, threatening over $100 million in state investments and its clean energy goals. This move is part of a broader federal campaign to cancel offshore wind projects nationwide, with the administration paying nearly $2 billion to companies like Golden State Wind, Bluepoint Wind, and TotalEnergies to end their leases. California alleges these actions violate federal law and undermine both state and national efforts to transition to renewable energy, setting the stage for a major legal and political battle.