Trump Administration Acquires Additional Offshore Wind Leases
WHO:
CT Mirror - Trump administration, Invenergy, President Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Hillary Bright, Gov. Janet Mills, Daniel Runyan
AP News - Invenergy, TotalEnergies, Golden State Wind, Bluepoint Wind
WHAT:
AP News - The Trump administration's latest deal with Invenergy involves the voluntary termination of leases off the coast of Morro Bay, New York Bight, and two off the Gulf of Maine.
Los Angeles Times - The $765 million payment to Invenergy represents a partial reimbursement for what they paid for the leases, which were awarded under the Biden administration.
Los Angeles Times - The California lease area, known as Even Keel Wind, covered about 80,000 acres and was estimated to support 2 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity, enough to power about 1 million homes.
Los Angeles Times - Invenergy plans to start exploratory drilling for geothermal energy later this year in the Western U.S., including potential sites in California, Idaho, and Nevada.
CT Mirror - The Trump administration is buying back offshore wind leases from Invenergy for four more wind projects.
AP News - The total amount spent on these buybacks has reached nearly $2.6 billion.
AP News - Invenergy will receive reimbursements of lease fees totaling $765 million for ending its four offshore wind leases.
AP News - The buybacks are intended to redirect investment from offshore wind to fossil fuel projects.
AP News - Eight offshore wind projects have been stopped due to these buybacks.
WHERE:
CT Mirror - The offshore wind leases are located off the coasts of New Jersey, Maine, and California.
AP News - The canceled Leading Light Wind project was off New Jersey’s coast, while other projects were off the coasts of Maine and California.
WHEN:
AP News - The deal with Invenergy is part of a series of buybacks, with the first deal announced in March.
AP News - The largest of the four leases was canceled in November.
WHY:
Los Angeles Times - The agreement with Invenergy is motivated by soaring demand for electricity, which is expected to grow as much as 40% in the next decade driven largely by AI data centers.
AP News - The Trump administration aims to discourage the expansion of wind energy in favor of fossil fuels.
AP News - The buybacks are a response to federal courts thwarting Trump’s efforts to stop offshore wind development through executive action.
AP News - Invenergy plans to invest the reimbursement money in natural gas and geothermal ventures that can be built more quickly.
HOW:
AP News - The buyback agreements involve reimbursements for lease fees in exchange for ending offshore wind leases.
AP News - Invenergy is focusing on energy projects that can be delivered on a commercially reasonable timeline.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 01:47 UTC)
The Trump administration has reached a deal with Invenergy that involves the voluntary termination of leases off the coast of Morro Bay, New York Bight, and two locations off the Gulf of Maine. This agreement includes a $765 million payment to Invenergy as a partial reimbursement for leases awarded under the Biden administration, with the California lease area alone covering about 80,000 acres and capable of powering approximately 1 million homes. Additionally, Invenergy plans to begin exploratory drilling for geothermal energy later this year in the Western U.S., targeting potential sites in California, Idaho, and Nevada, amid a growing demand for electricity projected to increase by as much as 40% in the next decade, largely driven by AI data centers.
--
(UPDATED June 17, 2026 23:30 UTC)
The Trump administration is moving forward with a significant buyback of offshore wind leases from Invenergy, which will affect four wind projects located off the coasts of New Jersey, Maine, and California. This deal, part of a series of buybacks that began in March, amounts to nearly $2.6 billion, with Invenergy set to receive $765 million in reimbursements for terminating its leases. The administration's strategy appears aimed at redirecting investment from renewable energy to fossil fuel projects, as eight offshore wind initiatives have been halted as a result.