Trump administration’s latest wasteful buyout shrinks California offshore wind industry to just two leases

(SACRAMENTO – August 6, 2026) The Trump administration announced it is paying yet another energy company $1.2 billion in taxpayer dollars to abandon its offshore wind projects off the coasts of California, New York and Louisiana. 

Thus far, the administration has bought out three of the five offshore wind leases on the California coast — Golden State Wind, Bluepoint Wind and Canopy Offshore Wind Project. Collectively, these projects represent 5.6 GW of total potential capacity and would power over 2 million homes with clean energy. 

California has already filed two notices of intent to sue to the U.S. Department of the Interior regarding the two previous buyouts. 

“The Trump administration is trying to completely throttle California’s offshore wind industry — saddling families and businesses with more expensive, polluting energy,” said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California Senior Director at Environmental Defense Fund. 

"Paying companies to shut down massive sources of clean, reliable power while our state's electricity needs keep growing is a recipe for higher costs. Californians did not sign up for these wasteful payouts that mean higher bills, more pollution and less jobs.” 

California is the only West Coast state with offshore wind leases, positioning it to play a leading role in supplying clean power across the region. As the recently launched Western electricity market grows, offshore wind generation will help provide more clean, affordable and reliable power to communities across the Western U.S. 

“California’s offshore wind isn’t just a California resource,” said Roedner Sutter. “With a new regional market making it easier to share power across state lines, blocking these projects would mean less clean energy, more pollution and higher electricity costs for communities throughout the West.”