California and New York sue over Trump push to halt wind energy projects

Democratic attorneys general from California and New York have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over its recent decision to buy back offshore wind leases. The legal challenge comes as U.S. officials begin to reverse wind project approvals, a move the president has framed as a step to prioritize fossil fuels over renewable energy. California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the suit targets the removal of a wind project off the state’s coast that was planned by Chicago‑based Invenergy. The administration confirmed in June that it was purchasing back the company's U.S. offshore wind leases for four projects located on both the east and west coasts. The lawsuits argue that the buy‑back strategy undermines the expansion of wind energy and contravenes existing renewable energy commitments. Both states are seeking to halt the lease buy‑backs and protect the offshore projects from cancellation. What to watch: potential court rulings that could shape the future of offshore wind development in the United States.

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This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: Guardian Environment