Bluepoint Wind, Golden State Wind Lease Buy-Back Threatens Affordable Energy, Wildlife Protections

Washington, D.C. - The Department of Interior announcement of two more agreements to end offshore wind leases for Bluepoint Wind off the coast of New York and Golden State Wind off California's coast threatens wildlife habitat and progress toward affordable energy. The buy-back conditions require a $765 million investment into an LNG facility in Texas owned by Global Infrastructure Partners, a co-owner of Bluepoint Wind. Ocean Winds and CPP Investments, the joint owners of Golden State Wind would receive up to $120 million in lease fees after investing an equivalent amount to develop oil and gas, LNG, or other energy infrastructure in the Gulf. These agreements follow the Department of Interior's $1 billion offshore wind lease buy-back from TotalEnergies.

"This administration is again reversing course on the nation's progress toward harnessing clean, reliable, inexhaustible offshore wind energy," said Amber Hewett, senior director of offshore wind energy at the National Wildlife Federation. "Rather than making energy more affordable, cleaner, and safer, they are forcing the hands of developers to abandon offshore wind energy for more oil and gas. This is a reckless use of taxpayer dollars and sets us further behind in the race to create jobs, lower costs, and curb the devastating effects of climate change."