California Sues Trump Administration Over Offshore Wind Buyout

California is suing the Trump administration and Golden State Wind over a $120 million deal to cancel the Morro Bay offshore wind lease, arguing the arrangement violates multiple federal laws and amounts to a backroom buyout that undermines the state’s clean-energy goals. The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Energy Commission in the Northern District of California, warns the cancellation threatens hundreds of millions in state investments in ports, transmission upgrades, and workforce development tied to offshore wind. Officials say the 2-gigawatt project would have powered about 1 million homes and created tens of thousands of jobs, with Humboldt Bay poised to play a key role in California’s floating wind strategy. California contends the buyout diverts taxpayer funds to oil and gas projects and wastes more than a year of planning and nearly $100 million already spent preparing infrastructure and industry. The case adds to a broader, ongoing clash over federal deals to shift offshore wind development toward fossil fuels, drawing criticism from state leaders who view it as harmful to California’s climate and economic interests. The state cites statutes including the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Judgment Fund Act as the basis for challenging the agreement, and vows to pursue all legal remedies to block the deal.