The U.S. Just Paid $1 Billion to Kill Clean Wind Energy and Hand It to Big Oil

The Trump administration just spent nearly a billion dollars making sure two offshore wind farms never get built. And somehow, it called that a win for American taxpayers.

On March 23, the Department of Interior announced a settlement with French energy giant TotalEnergies, refunding the $928 million the company paid under the Biden administration for two offshore wind leases. One project sat off the coast of New Jersey. The other was off North Carolina. Together, they could have powered roughly 1.7 million homes with clean electricity. In exchange for the refund, TotalEnergies agreed to walk away from both leases permanently and pledged not to pursue any new offshore wind projects in the United States. The company will redirect the money into oil, natural gas, and a liquefied natural gas export terminal in Texas.

According to the New York Times, the deal marks a notable shift in the administration’s anti-wind strategy. After losing five consecutive court battles trying to halt offshore wind construction through executive action, the administration found a new approach: pay companies to quit instead.

Environmentalists are not buying the spin. The Natural Resources Defense Council called it a “boondoggle” that funnels nearly a billion dollars in taxpayer money to a foreign fossil fuel corporation. Grid operators along the East Coast have consistently said offshore wind is essential to meeting rising electricity demand. Meanwhile, wind energy costs have dropped more than 50% globally since 2013, making it one of the most promising tools we have for protecting the environment.

The deal also sets a troubling precedent. Industry analysts warn that other companies holding offshore leases could now seek similar payouts, further stalling the clean energy transition the planet urgently needs.

This is a setback, but offshore wind is still moving forward in courts, in states, and across the earth. Support clean energy advocates and organizations fighting to keep renewable projects alive.

Sign These Petitions! 

Please sign our latest and most urgent petitions to help the planet. Every signature counts!

• Petition: Shut Down the South Carolina Pet Grooming Business Caught on Video Beating Dogs
• Petition: Demand Justice for Seven Dogs Allegedly Abandoned to Starve in Ukraine
• Petition: Missouri Petsitter Allegedly Beat Dog to Death While Family Was Away

Related Content:

•  Ohio Bill Could Block Wind and Solar and Even Coal
• Offshore Wind Construction Restarts In US After Court Orders
• China Tests Flying Wind Power Station Over Cities