Eight Attorneys General have filed a notice of intent that they will challenge two unlawful payoffs from the Trump administration to energy companies. In these settlements, the administration paid energy companies nearly $2 billion in exchange for the companies to abandon offshore wind projects and double down on fossil fuels. These payoffs follow a number of attacks from the Trump administration on renewable energy, including banning wind projects, issuing stop work orders, and slashing federal investments. Not only is Donald Trump using tax payer dollars to kneecap renewable energy, but he is also driving up energy bills by forcing Americans to rely on costly fossil fuels. The Trump administration made secretive agreements with energy companies Bluepoint and Invenergy, paying both companies nearly $1 billion each in an attempt to thwart offshore wind development across the country. The projects that have been cancelled as a result would have provided energy for nearly 3 million homes in New York, New Jersey, and New England. The states that have joined this filing are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The California Attorney General has separately filed a notice of intent to sue the administration over the same illegal settlements. A coalition of states from New England are also actively challenging a similar settlement between the administration and TotalEnergies. In response, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Xavier Boatright issued the following response: “Donald Trump is wasting our taxpayer dollars and giving it away to fossil fuel CEOs while driving up energy costs and pollution. This blatant and egregious pay off is an insult to all Americans who are struggling to keep up with soaring energy prices. “We are glad to see states from coast to coast step up and take action to defend their residents from being taken advantage of by Donald Trump and Doug Burgum. Offshore wind offers the cheaper, more reliable, and cleaner energy future that Americans want and deserve.” About the Sierra Club The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
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