---
title: "New York, California Sue Over Offshore Wind Lease Settlements"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/new-york-california-sue-over-offshore-wind-lease-settlements"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/new-york-california-sue-over-offshore-wind-lease-settlements"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/new-york-california-sue-over-offshore-wind-lease-settlements.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/new-york-california-sue-over-offshore-wind-lease-settlements"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-09-22T19:46:06.547Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-22T19:12:27.940Z"
updated: "2026-09-22T19:46:06.547Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 61
hype_score: 20
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-22T20:31:02.287108+00:00"
---

# New York, California Sue Over Offshore Wind Lease Settlements

*Eight states challenge federal deals that redirected funds from renewable energy to fossil fuels.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 22 digests corroborate the lawsuits, but only one outlet names the specific dollar amounts for the settlements.
- Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and well-structured, with quotes from officials and clear separation of fact from comment.
- Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or manufactured urgency.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- New York and New Jersey are among eight states suing the federal government over settlements that cancelled offshore wind projects.
- The settlements redirected more than $1.4 billion from renewable energy development to fossil fuel projects.
- Lawsuits allege the deals are an illegal use of taxpayer dollars and hinder clean energy goals.
- The Trump administration stated the projects posed national security risks and companies agreed to the deals.

New York and New Jersey have joined a multistate coalition of eight states filing lawsuits against the federal government. The suits challenge a pair of settlements that redirected more than $1.4 billion away from offshore wind development and toward fossil fuel projects. The states argue these deals, struck earlier this year, represent an illegal use of taxpayer dollars and have resulted in the cancellation of projects that could have provided needed electricity and jobs.

One settlement involved Bluepoint Wind, which had a lease for a project 38 miles south of Long Island. The company received $765 million from the federal government, money that Bluepoint plans to use to build a liquified natural gas facility. Another settlement concerned Invenergy, which held leases off the Jersey Shore and in the Gulf of Maine. Invenergy received $653 million, which the company intends to reinvest in natural gas power plants.

California is also suing over the cancellation of Invenergy California Offshore LLC.'s federal leases for projects in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area, New York Bight, and Gulf of Maine. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated the deal would send $111 million to the fossil fuel industry. The federal government is funding these settlements from the Department of Justice’s Judgement Fund.

## Disagreement on settlement terms

Gothamist reported that the Bluepoint settlement pays $765 million to the company, and that money will be spent on oil and gas development. It also stated that Invenergy received $653 million to be reinvested in oil and gas projects. KEYT reported that Invenergy would receive a partial refund of capital it previously paid to the government for the leases and be required to make investments into domestic natural gas and geothermal projects. KEYT also stated that the terms of the buyout agreement require Invenergy to cause its corporate affiliates to invest up to $111,769,231 in fossil fuel and geothermal energy projects.

## What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated reports mention the specific amounts of $765 million paid to Bluepoint Wind or $653 million paid to Invenergy. The left-rated and centre-rated reports also did not mention the specific figure of $111 million that California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated would go to the fossil fuel industry.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 31 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 48% (15)
- Centre: 42% (13)
- Right: 10% (3)

3 of 34 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-22T20:31:02.287108+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-22T21:16:03.553Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Reports from the left-rated outlets led on the lawsuits filed by New York and New Jersey against the Trump administration over settlements that cancelled offshore wind projects. These reports highlighted that the settlements redirected more than $1.4 billion from offshore wind development to fossil fuel projects. They quoted New York Attorney General Letitia James, who stated the deals were an "illegal use of taxpayer dollars" and "corruption over communities." The left-rated reports also mentioned California's lawsuit over the cancellation of Invenergy California Offshore LLC.'s federal leases, with Attorney General Rob Bonta stating the deal would send $111 million to the fossil fuel industry. The funding of these settlements from the Department of Justice’s Judgement Fund was noted. Some reports mentioned that the Trump administration had previously reached similar deals with other companies, such as TotalEnergies.

### Centre

- Reports from the centre-rated outlets focused on the lawsuits filed by California and New York against the Trump administration regarding offshore wind lease settlements. These reports stated that eight states filed lawsuits challenging the federal government's payments to private companies to cancel offshore wind leases. They noted that the settlements involved redirecting funds from wind energy to fossil fuel projects. The centre-rated reports mentioned the amounts involved in the Bluepoint and Invenergy settlements, stating that Bluepoint received $765 million and Invenergy received $653 million. California Attorney General Rob Bonta was quoted as saying he is suing over the removal of a project off his state's coast. Some reports included a statement from a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Charlotte Taylor, who said the department would not comment on litigation but noted the administration determined the projects posed national security risks and that companies voluntarily agreed to the deals.

### Right

- The right-rated reports focused on California suing the Trump administration over a deal to cancel an offshore wind project. These reports stated that the state is challenging a settlement that exchanged tens of millions of dollars for a promise to invest in fossil fuels. The reports mentioned that the Interior Department struck an agreement with an energy developer to cancel an offshore wind project.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 1
- high: 15
- unknown: 3
- veryHigh: 15

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Pennsylvania Capital-Star](https://penncapital-star.com/2026/09/22/repub/states-file-new-lawsuits-against-trumps-payouts-stopping-offshore-wind) — States file new lawsuits against Trump’s payouts stopping offshore wind
- [mainemorningstar.com](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/09/22/repub/maine-northeast-states-file-new-lawsuit-against-trumps-payouts-stopping-offshore-wind) — Maine, northeast states file new lawsuit against Trump’s payouts stopping offshore wind
- [Source New Mexico](https://sourcenm.com/2026/09/22/repub/states-file-new-lawsuits-against-trumps-payouts-stopping-offshore-wind) — States file new lawsuits against Trump’s payouts stopping offshore wind
- [nj](https://nj.com/politics/2026/09/inside-the-14b-taxpayer-backed-buyout-to-kill-nj-offshore-wind-projects.html) — Inside the $1.4B taxpayer-backed buyout to kill N.J. offshore wind projects
- [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/eeuu/california-y-nueva-york-demandan-a-trump-por-plan-para-frenar-la-generacion-de-energia-eolica-b3054538.html) — California and New York Demand Trump for Plan to Stop Wind Power Generation · Global Voices
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/state/11159910/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects.html) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](https://post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2026/09/22/new-york-california-trump-wind-projects/stories/202609230010) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [The CT Mirror](https://ctmirror.org/2026/09/22/ct-sues-trump-offshore-wind-payouts) — CT sues Trump administration over payouts stopping offshore wind
- [Gothamist](https://gothamist.com/news/ny-nj-sue-trump-admin-over-deals-to-scrap-offshore-wind-projects) — NY, NJ sue Trump admin over deals to scrap offshore wind projects
- [KEYT](https://keyt.com/news/california/2026/09/22/california-sues-trump-administration-over-deal-to-kill-local-offshore-wind-project) — California Sues Trump Administration Over Deal To Kill Local Offshore Wind Project
- [Stateline](https://stateline.org/2026/09/22/states-file-new-lawsuits-against-trumps-payouts-stopping-offshore-wind) — States file new lawsuits against Trump’s payouts stopping offshore wind
- [NY1](http://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2026/09/22/california-ny-lawsuit-trump-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — California, New York sue to block Trump deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Spectrum News](http://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/politics/2026/09/22/california-ny-lawsuit-trump-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — California, New York sue to block Trump deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Spectrum Local News](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/ca/california/politics/2026/09/22/california-ny-lawsuit-trump-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — California, New York sue to block Trump deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/85b323512bfd74cd) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/09/22/new-york-california-sue-trump-offshore-wind) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Boston Herald](https://bostonherald.com/2026/09/22/new-york-california-sue-trump-offshore-wind) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/new-york-california-trump-letitia-james-washington-b3054484.html) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/new-york-california-trump-letitia-james-washington-b3054484.html) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects/article_6f133cc8-fd15-510a-9a89-481c2018cdde.html) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/business/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [WV News](https://wvnews.com/newsfeed/politics/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects/article_5cbbeb41-d39c-58c8-9984-4ccd098fc5cd.html) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [abc News](https://abcnews.com/Business/wireStory/new-york-california-sue-block-trump-administration-deals-136656905) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [MY Northwest](https://mynorthwest.com/national/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects/4278700) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [WPLG](https://local10.com/news/national/2026/09/22/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/national/2026/09/22/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Bangor Daily News](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/09/22/nation/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy-and-environment/4737667/california-sues-trump-over-deal-cancel-offshore-wind-projects) — California sues Trump over deal to cancel offshore wind projects
- [WRNJ Radio, Inc](https://wrnjradio.com/new-jersey-joins-lawsuits-challenging-cancellation-of-offshore-wind-leases) — New Jersey joins lawsuits challenging cancellation of offshore wind leases - WRNJ Radio
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/business/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects/article_f011eb0e-599a-5390-b7bb-5cfdbc337ac8.html) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [The Record](https://therecord.com/business/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects/article_c8474781-ada3-55ab-8cc0-7ce81cf516e7.html) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/09/22/new-york-california-sue-to-block-trump-administration-deals-canceling-offshore-wind-projects) — New York, California sue to block Trump administration deals canceling offshore wind projects
- [Courthouse News Service](https://courthousenews.com/new-york-maine-lead-challenge-against-trump-offshore-wind-dealings) — New York, Maine lead challenge against Trump offshore wind dealings

## Questions

**Why are New York and New Jersey suing the federal government?**

New York and New Jersey, along with six other states, are suing the federal government over settlements that cancelled offshore wind projects. They allege these deals improperly redirected over $1.4 billion from renewable energy development to fossil fuel projects, constituting an illegal use of taxpayer money.

**What were the specific settlements being challenged?**

The lawsuits challenge two specific settlements. One involved Bluepoint Wind, which received $765 million for a project planned south of Long Island. The other involved Invenergy, which received $653 million for leases off the Jersey Shore and in the Gulf of Maine. California is also suing over Invenergy's cancelled leases.

**What is the federal government's stated reason for these settlements?**

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of the Interior stated that the Trump administration determined the offshore wind projects posed national security risks. The department also noted that the companies voluntarily agreed to the deals, which were reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice.

---

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