California sues Trump administration over offshore wind farm cancellation

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Energy Commission have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration and Golden State Wind to challenge a $120 million agreement that halts an offshore wind project near Morro Bay.

The lawsuit alleges that the U.S. Department of the Interior acted illegally by returning lease funds to Golden State Wind to facilitate the cancellation of a 2-gigawatt floating wind farm project. According to state officials, the agreement allows the company to redirect those funds toward fossil fuel projects instead of renewable energy.

Bonta characterized the deal as a “backroom buyout” intended to benefit oil industry donors. The state argues that the cancellation jeopardizes thousands of potential jobs and threatens $30 million in committed funding for local workforce training, supply chain development, and community benefits.