Attorney General Bonta Sends Notice of Intent to File Suit Challenging Trump Administration’s Third Unlawful Offshore Wind Deal

OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Energy Commission (CEC) today sent a Notice of Intent to Sue targeting an unlawful agreement between the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and RWE U.S. Offshore (RWE) that would undermine California's offshore wind energy development. Under the agreement, DOI will illegally reallocate $1.22 billion in federal taxpayer dollars to pay RWE to abandon its affiliates' offshore wind energy leases in federal waters off the coasts of California, Louisiana, and New York, and require RWE to invest the same amount in out-of-state fossil-fuel projects that will do nothing to support California's energy economy. If allowed to proceed, the lease buyout threatens to set back California's burgeoning offshore wind industry, stranding public investments in ports' offshore wind capacity, and damaging supporting industries and clean energy jobs.

"Don't be fooled, this agreement is just another ploy to kill offshore wind projects and slip millions of dollars into the hands of President Trump's donors and business partners. Yet again, the Trump Administration is trying to thwart the clean energy industry, but when the President repeats his play, so will we," said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "Today, we're putting the Trump Administration on notice that we intend to sue. Offshore wind investments create jobs, bolster our economy, and deliver reliable clean energy to Californians. Whenever the Trump Administration tries to attack clean energy, my office will be here to fight back."

"The Trump administration's latest attack on California's clean energy future will not go unanswered. We will vigorously contest these unlawful backroom deals that would redirect public funds from clean offshore wind to polluting fossil fuel projects owned by donors to Donald Trump's campaign coffers," said CEC Chair David Hochschild. "Our state has invested over $100 million to support offshore wind, which will strengthen energy independence, create good-paying jobs, and build the clean energy future Californians demand. We will defend that progress every time it is threatened."

BACKGROUND

California's offshore wind strategic plan calls for the state to develop 25 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2045, enough to power roughly 25 million homes and provide about 13% of the state's electricity supply, to accelerate California's clean energy transition, create local manufacturing jobs, and drive economic development. Since federal offshore wind energy development planning began off California's coast a decade ago, the state has worked with federal agencies, developers, tribes, labor groups, ports, fishermen, local governments, and communities to prepare for offshore wind development. California has invested more than $100 million to ready California's ports, transmission systems, and industries to support offshore wind generation.

This latest agreement is part of the Trump Administration's ongoing attempt to cancel offshore wind projects and replace them with fossil-fuel energy projects, including deals with Golden State Wind LLC and Invenergy. On August 6, 2026, RWE announced a $1.22 billion agreement with DOI to cancel three offshore wind energy leases in federal waters off the coasts of California, Louisiana, and New York. The buyout is styled as an alleged settlement agreement that provides for DOI to cancel the wind lease, pay out the bid, and require RWE to fund liquefied natural gas infrastructure and natural gas projects across the country. Beyond that, it has been reported that a majority of the $1.22 billion in federal taxpayer dollars designated for offshore wind will be used by RWE to purchase a stake in a certain fossil-fuel project run by a major Trump donor and neighbor.

In the Notice of Intent to Sue sent to DOI and RWE today, California alleges that the buyout deal violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), which is intended to give states like California a say in the offshore wind leasing program and prevent corrupt backroom deals. The Notice of Intent to Sue provides a 60-day window to cure the OCSLA violations before California files suit to put a stop to this unlawful buyout.