AG Bonta and California Energy Commission (CEC) Chair David Hochschild today sent a Notice of Intent to Sue targeting an unlawful agreement between the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and Golden State Wind LLC (GSW) that puts at risk California’s clean energy gains, thousands of high-quality jobs, and more than $100 million in public investments in the offshore wind industry, including voter-approved climate funds. Under the agreement, DOI illegally reallocates $120 million in federal taxpayer dollars to pay GSW to abandon its offshore wind energy lease in federal waters off of California’s Central Coast and requires GSW to invest an equal amount in out-of-state fossil-fuel projects that will do nothing to support California’s energy economy. If allowed to proceed, the lease buyout threatens to set back California’s burgeoning offshore wind industry by years. In the Notice of Intent to Sue sent to DOI and GSW today, California alleges that DOI’s buyout deal with GSW violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), which is supposed to ensure that California gets a say in the offshore wind leasing program and prevent corrupt backroom deals. The Notice of Intent to Sue provides a 60-day window for DOI and GSW to cure the OCSLA violations before California files suit to put a stop to this unlawful buyout.   

“At a time when the country needs more reliable and sustainable power supply, the Trump Administration is busy using taxpayer money to strike backroom buyouts that make clean-energy projects disappear. California won’t stand idly by as the Trump Administration illegally strikes deals to kill offshore wind projects and replace them with more windfalls for his fossil fuel friends; we’re putting the administration on notice that we intend to sue. California’s clean energy goals, created high-quality jobs, and bolstered our economy. My office will continue to fight back aggressively against the Trump Administration’s illegal attacks on wind energy projects.” -AG Bonta