#offshore wind

A coalition of seven blue states sued the Trump administration Tuesday after it paid a French company nearly $1 billion in taxpayer money to not build offshore wind farms.

The lawsuit, led by New York attorney general Letitia James, argued that the deal struck between TotalEnergies and the Trump administration earlier this year deprived their states of much-needed power, and could raise electricity costs in the New England and mid-Atlantic regions.

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1. Landmark debt swap to protect Indonesia’s coral reefs

“The government of Indonesia announced this week a deal to redirect more than US$ 35 million it owes to the United States into the conservation of coral reefs in the most biodiverse ocean area on Earth.”

2. [FWS] Provides Over $1.3 Billion to Support Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access

“Through these combined funds, agencies have supported monitoring and management of over 500 species of wild mammals and birds, annual stocking of over 1 billion fish, operations of fish and wildlife disease laboratories around the country, and provided hunter and aquatic education to millions of students.”

3. Philippine Indigenous communities restore a mountain forest to prevent urban flooding

“Indigenous knowledge systems and practices are considered in the project design, and its leaders and members have been involved throughout the process, from agreeing to participate to identifying suitable land and selecting plant species that naturally grow in the area.”

4. Responsible Offshore Wind Development is a Clear Win for Birds, the U.S. Economy, and our Climate

“[T]he total feasible offshore wind capacity along U.S. coasts is more than three times the total electricity generated nationwide in 2023. […] Proven strategies, such as reducing visible lights on turbines and using perching deterrents on turbines, have been effective in addressing bird impacts.”

5. Illinois awards $100M for electric truck charging corridor, Tesla to get $40M

“The project will facilitate the construction of 345 electric truck charging ports and pull-through truck charging stalls across 14 sites throughout Illinois[…. E]lectrifying [the 30,000 daily long-haul] trucks would make a huge impact in the public health and quality of life along the heavily populated roadways.”

6. Reinventing the South Florida seawall to help marine life, buffer rising seas

“[The new seawall] features raised areas inspired by mangrove roots that are intended to both provide nooks and crannies for fish and crabs and other marine creatures and also better absorb some of the impact from waves and storm surges.”

7. Long Beach Commits to 100% All-Electric Garbage Trucks

“[Diesel garbage trucks] produce around a quarter of all diesel pollution in California and contribute to 1,400 premature deaths every year. Electric options, on the other hand, are quieter than their diesel counterparts and produce zero tailpipe emissions.”

8. ‘This Is a Victory': Biden Affirms ERA Has Been 'Ratified' and Law of the Land

“President Joe Biden on Friday announced his administration's official opinion that the amendment is ratified and its protections against sex-based discrimination are enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.”

9. A Little-Known Clean Energy Solution Could Soon Reach ‘Liftoff’

“Ground source heat pumps could heat and cool the equivalent of 7 million homes by 2035—up from just over 1 million today[…. G]eothermal energy is generally considered to be more popular among Republicans than other forms of clean energy, such as wind and solar.”

10. Researchers combine citizens' help and cutting-edge tech to track biodiversity

“Researchers in the project, which runs from 2022 to 2026, are experimenting with tools like drones, cameras and sensors to collect detailed data on different species, [… and] Observation.org, a global biodiversity platform where people submit pictures of animals and plants, helping to identify and monitor them.”

The New York attorney general and the top prosecutors of six other Northeast states on Tuesday sued the Trump administration over what they call a “blatantly unlawful” deal to cancel a $795 million offshore wind lease.

The suit stems from an agreement the U.S. Department of the Interior struck with French energy company TotalEnergies in March. Under the agreement, TotalEnergies renounced its wind lease and agreed to invest about $1 billion in oil and natural gas production, in exchange for a full reimbursement by the federal government.

“This administration cooked up a sham deal to pay a foreign energy company hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to abandon offshore wind and invest in oil and gas instead,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit is the latest chapter in the Trump administration’s efforts to cancel offshore wind leases. The campaign has generated intense pushback from Northeast and New England states that have budgeted for of new clean energy.

President Donald Trump halted federal approvals for wind energy projects across the country on his first day in office last year. James and a coalition of attorneys general sued, and a federal judge the ban in December.

The administration also tried to stop construction on two of New York’s offshore wind projects on national security grounds — but a federal judge earlier this year.

Federal officials then set their sights on TotalEnergies subsidiary Attentive Energy, which in 2022 paid $795 million to purchase a lease about 50 miles off the coast of New York and New Jersey.

State regulators said the project would have provided power to roughly 700,000 New York homes and created more than 1,700 new jobs.

Development stopped after the company’s deal with the Department of the Interior paid TotalEnergies not to develop any other offshore wind projects in the United States.

Most of these items are a little older as I've been swamped.

Regulations are written in blood. deregulation is about letting corporations harm ordinary people.

Trump Offers Funds for First New U.S. Coal Plants in 13 Years

We are wasting all this money to prevent seven states from getting cheap clean energy.

The Trump administration is removing bison herds from public land in Montana

RFK Jr. Halts Ban on Minors Using Tanning Beds, Cites 'Personal Choice' and 'Parental Decision-Making'

Excerpt:

A federal judge on Monday ruled that construction could resume on a $6.2 billion wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island, striking down the Trump administration’s decision last month to halt work on the Revolution Wind project.

Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the Interior Department’s suspension order was “arbitrary and capricious” in violation of federal law.

Revolution Wind is one of five offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast that were ordered to stop work last month by the Trump administration, which cited unspecified national security concerns. Several states, as well as developers of four of the projects, have challenged the move in court. The case involving Revolution Wind was the first complaint to be heard.

The decision is a temporary victory for Revolution Wind and the offshore wind industry, which has been roiled by the Trump administration’s efforts to block offshore wind farms that had received permits under the Biden administration. Orsted, the Danish energy giant that is building Revolution Wind, can now continue with construction as litigation it has filed against the Trump administration proceeds.

In his ruling, Judge Lamberth said the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management did not adequately explain how the project posed security risks or why halting construction of Revolution Wind would address these concerns. “Purportedly new classified information does not constitute a sufficient explanation for the bureau’s decision to entirely stop work on the Revolution Wind project,” Judge Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, said while ruling from the bench.

Representatives for the Interior Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Orsted issued a statement saying Revolution Wind would resume construction work “as soon as possible” to deliver power to the Northeast.

I’m Mark. I spend about half my year on steel platforms in the middle of the ocean and the other half trying to remember what grass feels like under my feet.

I started this blog because life on a rig is a strange paradox it’s incredibly loud and busy, yet sometimes the most silent and lonely place on Earth. When you’re surrounded by hundreds of miles of deep water, you start to appreciate the things that truly matter. honesty, a good conversation, and the people waiting for you on solid ground.

A few things about me:

Mechanical Engineer by trade. I like knowing how things work and fixing them when they don't.

Coffee and Sunsets. The two things that keep the night shifts manageable.

Homebound. When I’m not offshore, you’ll find me hiking, working on my truck, or looking for the best local diner I can find.

🖋️ Here for the "Real." I’m looking to connect with people who value genuine substance over small talk.

If you’re stopping by, leave a note or an "Ask." I might be slow to reply depending on the satellite signal, but I always get back to the people who take the time to reach out.