Trump Pays Off Energy Company in Grudge Match Against Offshore Wind

Washington, D.C. - According to reporting, Donald Trump is paying Invenergy $765 million to abandon its four offshore wind leases.

This comes days after the administration voluntarily dismissed its own appeal in an ongoing legal challenge against Donald Trump's executive order to ban wind development in the United States. The administration also issued stop work orders for five offshore wind farms under construction, but all orders were overturned in court.

In March 2026, Donald Trump paid French energy company TotalEnergies $1 billion in exchange for the energy company to abandon development of offshore wind, and instead double down on LNG exports. This deal is currently under investigation by Senator Whitehouse and Democratic Senators on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Public Works.

In response, Sierra Club Senior Advisor Nancy Pyne issued the following statement:

"Time and time again, the courts have rejected Donald Trump's moves to sink the offshore wind industry, so now he's resorting to pay offs and grift in his never ending grudge match against wind power.

"From day one, this administration has tried to obstruct the progress renewable energy has made in our country to appease his buddies in the fossil fuel industry. But his reckless attempts keep losing in the courts because experts, judges, and everyday people all agree: offshore wind is a common sense solution to high energy prices and deadly fossil fuel pollution.

"Now, because he keeps losing in court, Donald Trump wants to tip the scales in favor of expensive and dangerous fossil fuels using shady backroom deals and Americans' hard-earned tax dollars. We will not let billions in public money be used to rig America's energy future while families pay more for electricity each month. Sierra Club will continue to fight back against these Trump-backed attacks on offshore wind."

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 https://www.sierraclub.org.