New York Attorney General Letitia James and several Democratic-led states are suing the Trump administration over a nearly $1 billion agreement that cancels offshore wind leases and redirects TotalEnergies toward oil and gas investments.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration over a nearly $1 billion agreement that cancels offshore wind leases and shifts a major energy company’s planned investments toward oil and gas infrastructure.
The lawsuit challenges a March agreement between the Interior Department and TotalEnergies, a French energy and petroleum company. Under the deal, the federal government agreed to reimburse the company for offshore wind leases off the coasts of New York and North Carolina while TotalEnergies redirects investments from offshore wind to offshore oil and shale gas production.
The canceled leases are worth approximately $928.3 million. The Interior Department agreed to pay nearly $1 billion to TotalEnergies as part of the arrangement.
James’ lawsuit argues that the Trump administration’s agreement will harm the economies, energy grids and climate goals of the states bringing the case, according to the Associated Press.
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and names Trump administration officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to vacate the lease cancellation and the settlement agreement with Attentive Energy, a TotalEnergies subsidiary.
James is joined in the lawsuit by attorneys general from Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey.
The legal challenge places Democratic-led states in direct conflict with the Trump administration over federal energy policy, offshore wind development and the administration’s broader effort to prioritize oil and gas production.
The plaintiff states argue that canceling the offshore wind leases will undermine energy planning and economic development tied to renewable energy projects. They also contend the deal interferes with state-level climate goals and efforts to expand electric grid capacity through offshore wind generation.
The Trump administration’s agreement with TotalEnergies reflects a sharp shift away from offshore wind projects favored by Democratic-led states and toward expanded fossil fuel production.
A federal judge will now be asked to decide whether the lease termination and settlement with Attentive Energy can stand.
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