Seven States Sue Trump Administration Over Offshore Wind Deal

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ALBANY, New York — New York and six other states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to terminate a major offshore wind lease and compensate the developer, arguing the move will undermine energy reliability, clean-energy goals, and consumer savings.

The lawsuit challenges a March agreement by the Interior Department that canceled the Attentive Energy offshore wind project. As part of the settlement, the federal government agreed to reimburse approximately $795 million to a subsidiary of French energy company TotalEnergies after determining the project would not move forward.

State officials contend the decision violated federal administrative procedures and improperly halted a project that was expected to provide electricity to roughly 1.3 million homes. Supporters of the project also argue it could have reduced long-term energy costs for consumers while helping states meet renewable energy targets.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul criticized the agreement, describing it as a misuse of taxpayer funds. Attorney General Letitia James accused the administration of orchestrating what she called a “sham deal” designed to advance fossil fuel development at the expense of renewable energy projects.

The Interior Department has defended the settlement. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the reimbursement reflected the realities of a project that was no longer economically viable and allowed the company to redirect investments elsewhere.

The dispute is part of a broader conflict over offshore wind development. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized offshore wind projects as costly and inefficient, and his administration has moved to halt or reconsider several projects approved under previous administrations.

The lawsuit seeks to reverse the cancellation and restore the lease, with the case expected to have significant implications for the future of offshore wind development in the United States.