Story perspectives

Seven States Sue Over $795 M Wind-Lease LNG Swap

6/3/2026

Center

New York Sues

The lawsuit challenges a $795 million “pay-not-to-play” deal that swapped a New York offshore wind lease for fossil-fuel funding.
On June 2 2026, seven states led by New York filed a federal suit in Washington, D.C. against the Interior Department.
The deal would reimburse TotalEnergies $795 million and fund about $1 billion in Texas LNG projects.
The cancelled 84,000-acre lease could generate 2,700 MW, power a million homes and save New Yorkers $10 billion.

Left

States Sue

Seven Democratic-led states claim the deal would cut over a thousand union jobs and raise residents' electricity bills.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration agreed to pay $795 million to TotalEnergies to cancel wind leases, prompting seven states to sue.
The states say the cancellation endangers grids, climate goals, and electricity supply during extreme weather.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the deal as energy, calling offshore wind costly and subsidy-dependent.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act in December 2007, setting a 20 % renewable electricity goal for 2020. The act spurred New York’s 2012 offshore wind lease auction, while the Bush administration had previously leased about 13 million acres of federal land. Today, New York and states sue the Interior Department after Trump administration’s deal to cancel the lease, highlighting clash between renewable incentives and fossil-fuel deals.

1 of 3

New York Sues

The lawsuit challenges a $795 million “pay-not-to-play” deal that swapped a New York offshore wind lease for fossil-fuel funding.
On June 2 2026, seven states led by New York filed a federal suit in Washington, D.C. against the Interior Department.
The deal would reimburse TotalEnergies $795 million and fund about $1 billion in Texas LNG projects.
The cancelled 84,000-acre lease could generate 2,700 MW, power a million homes and save New Yorkers $10 billion.

1 / 3