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A coalition of seven U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a nearly $928 million agreement that resulted in TotalEnergies withdrawing from two offshore wind projects in the United States.

Led by New York, the coalition also includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The states argue that the March agreement, which refunded TotalEnergies the full cost of its offshore wind leases in exchange for relinquishing development rights and redirecting investment toward fossil fuel projects, was unlawful.

According to the lawsuit, the cancelled projects included Attentive Energy One, planned off the coast of New York, and Attentive Energy Two, intended to serve New Jersey. The filing states that Attentive Energy One could have generated enough electricity to power approximately 700,000 homes.

In a statement, Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, described the agreement as a “pay-not-to-play scheme” and called it “an outrageous abuse of taxpayer dollars.”

The states contend that the deal violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and improperly uses the U.S. Department of Justice’s judgment fund. They also argue that cancelling the projects could negatively affect regional energy supply, economic development, and climate objectives.

The case represents the latest legal challenge to the administration’s efforts to restrict offshore wind development and encourage investment in fossil fuel projects.

Source: ft.com