Trump Administration Proposes $1 Billion Deal to Block Offshore Wind Farms

Settlements would cancel leases for wind projects off New York and North Carolina, pay developer TotalEnergies to abandon plans.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:03am

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The Trump administration is drafting settlement agreements that would pay nearly $1 billion to the French energy company TotalEnergies to cancel leases and abandon plans for two offshore wind farms off the East Coast. Under the proposed deals, the Interior Department would cancel leases for the Attentive Energy project off New York and the Carolina Long Bay project off North Carolina, and the Justice Department would reimburse TotalEnergies for its winning bids during the Biden administration. In exchange, TotalEnergies would give up its plans to build the wind farms and instead invest in natural gas infrastructure in Texas.

Why it matters

This represents a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to targeting the country's nascent offshore wind sector after a series of legal setbacks. The proposed settlements would be the first time the administration has targeted wind farms that have won leases but not yet begun construction, rather than projects already underway.

The details

The settlements would pay TotalEnergies more than $928 million to abandon the Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay projects. Attentive Energy, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and other developers, was expected to power over 1 million homes in New York, while Carolina Long Bay, wholly owned by TotalEnergies, would have powered around 300,000 homes in North Carolina. In addition to the lease cancellations, TotalEnergies would agree to 'accelerated investments' in gas plants and production sites in Texas.

  • The Trump administration declared a national energy emergency on his first day back in office in January 2025.
  • In December 2025, the Interior Department ordered a halt to work on five other offshore wind farms, citing a classified Defense Department report claiming the projects threatened national security.
  • In November 2024, TotalEnergies said it would 'put the Attentive Energy project on pause' due to Trump's election.

The players

TotalEnergies

A French energy company that was the winning bidder for the leases for the Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay offshore wind projects.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who has disparaged offshore wind power since 2012 and has taken steps to quash wind and solar projects on federal lands and waters.

Interior Department

The federal agency that would cancel the leases for the two offshore wind projects under the proposed settlements.

Justice Department

The federal agency that would pay TotalEnergies more than $928 million to reimburse the company for its winning bids on the offshore wind leases.

Rise Light & Power

A developer that was a joint venture partner with TotalEnergies on the Attentive Energy project.

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What they’re saying

“It is quite unusual for the administration to do this cash outlay, seemingly just because Trump doesn't like offshore wind.”

— John Leshy, Former general counsel for the Interior Department during the Clinton administration (New York Times)

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

It is unclear whether TotalEnergies will accept the proposed settlements. If the company refuses the offers, the Trump administration would still cancel the leases, leading to costly litigation that both sides might be eager to avoid.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's proposed $1 billion deal to block offshore wind farms off the East Coast represents a significant escalation in its efforts to prioritize fossil fuels over renewable energy, even as the industry has celebrated major milestones like the start of power delivery and completion of construction on other projects.