BOSTON – June 2, 2026 – New England for Offshore Wind applauds the lawsuit filed by attorneys general from New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont against U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)’s unlawful settlements with TotalEnergies and the cancellation of its offshore wind lease off the coast of New York.  

In March 2026, DOI announced a buyout agreement with the French energy company that relinquished the company’s leases in exchange for over a billion dollars in taxpayer funds. The agreement was contingent on TotalEnergies’s promised reinvestment of the money in US liquid natural gas refinery development and exports. 

The offshore wind project slated to be developed in the defined lease area would have supplied homes and businesses across the region with clean, affordable, and reliable energy, while powering thousands of local jobs, robust economic development, and a just, equitable energy transition.  

New England for Offshore Wind supports and emphasizes the arguments laid out by the attorneys general. The buyout agreements set a dangerous precedent for regulatory processes and energy build out of all kinds, and critically harms our region’s economy, climate goals, and grid stability.  

“The continued delay of offshore wind projects is forcing our economy to forfeit thousands of well-paying jobs that future offshore wind development would create. Pursuing buyouts of offshore wind lease areas will cost taxpayers far more than the billion dollars that they already stand to lose. ” said Katie Segal, Senior Offshore Wind Director, Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) and Regional Lead for New England for Offshore Wind (NE4OSW),  “In a time of massive energy demand growth, our nation, and New England in particular, needs all the energy production we can get. This settlement agreement is not smart energy policy, it’s a direct assault on our nation’s economy, our grid security, and on the livelihoods of American families. The leadership demonstrated by these seven attorneys general is exactly the kind of action needed to ensure a vibrant and powerful economy with affordable energy for all.” 

“This is about communities. Across New England, people have invested years in workforce training, port development, small businesses, and local partnerships tied to offshore wind.” said Carlos E. Avila, Community Engagement Director for ELM and NE4OSW,  “Standing up for a transparent and lawful process helps protect the progress those communities have worked hard to achieve.” 

“We applaud the lawsuit from Attorney General Frey and the other attorneys general to end this misguided scheme from the Trump Administration,” said Nick Janzen, Director of Policy and Partnerships at Maine Conservation Voters and Maine Regional Lead for NE4OSW. “With oil and gas prices still sky high because of the war with Iran, there’s never been a better time to invest in cheap, homegrown sources of energy like offshore wind. Instead, the administration’s war on wind continues to cost Americans money and jeopardize the health of our environment.” 

“The lawsuit brought forth by seven attorneys general, including Peter Neronha of Rhode Island and Andrea Campbell of Massachusetts, sends a powerful message: defending offshore wind is critical for American energy affordability, reliability, and independence.” says Amanda Barker Clean Energy Program Manager, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, and Rhode Island Regional Lead for NE4OSW, “Offshore wind remains an essential part of our state’s approach to meeting our climate goals, saving our residents money on their utility bills, and securing a just and profitable clean energy transition for all.” 

“Attorney General Charity Clark has never been one to hold back from a fight for our climate, and we are grateful for her continued advocacy against the Trump administration’s harmful actions on our environment,” said Peter Sterling, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont, and Vermont Regional Lead for NE4OSW, “Offshore wind upholds key Vermonter values: combatting the climate crisis, standing up for communities overburdened by natural gas prices and emissions, and lighting the way to our net-zero future. Actions like those brought forth by AG Clark and the other six states are how we make meaningful change for our environment, for this generation and the next.”  

“The New England for Offshore Wind coalition is built around engaged cross-state collaboration to advance responsible and equitable offshore wind development,” said Barbara Beblowski, Coalition Manager for New England for Offshore Wind, “The lawsuit brought forth by these seven states is a manifestation of the activity our coalition supports: an unwavering pursuit of a clean energy future, built by and for the American people. When we act together in support of offshore wind, we move forward faster.”