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U.S. Drafts Nearly $1 Billion Deal to Cancel TotalEnergies Offshore Wind Leases

The reported settlement reflects a shift from litigation to buyouts that prioritize Texas natural gas over offshore wind.

Overview

  • According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, Interior would cancel the Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay leases and Justice would reimburse more than $928 million.
  • The proposed agreements would have TotalEnergies scrap both offshore wind projects and commit to accelerated investments in natural gas infrastructure in Texas.
  • It remains unclear whether TotalEnergies will sign, and internal documents indicate the administration plans to cancel the leases even if the company declines.
  • TotalEnergies paid about $795 million for the Attentive Energy lease in a joint venture and $160 million for Carolina Long Bay, and it paused the New York project in November 2024 citing political uncertainty.
  • The buyout approach follows a series of federal court defeats for efforts to halt offshore wind projects and signals an active policy turn away from the sector.