California files another Notice of Intent to Sue the federal government over cancelled offshore wind farm projects

Today California once again threatened to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) for what it claims was an illegal buyout of a company that had previously agreed to develop a wind farm energy project off of the coast of Morro Bay, CA. That company, Invenergy, was also threatened in the potential lawsuit.

Photo Credit: U.S. Department of the Interior

The Notice of Intent to Sue - PDF was sent by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Energy Commission (CEC) Chair David Hochschild. They claim that DOI violated the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act by illegally reallocating more than $111 million in federal taxpayer dollars to pay a subsidiary of Invenergy to abandon its offshore wind energy project and make an equivalent investment in geothermal and fossil fuel projects elsewhere. 

DOI announced the agreement with the Invenergy subsidiary on June 17, 2026.

California previously filed a similar Notice of Intent to Sue last month related to a previous buyout of another company by DOI for a project in the same offshore area. That buyout of $120 million was with Golden State Wind LLC, which we previously reported on here.

It is not only California offshore wind energy developments that have been affected by these federal actions. Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont also sent a joint Notice of Intent to Sue - PDF today to challenge additional lease buyouts between DOI and Invenergy subsidiaries that were announced at the same time. Those taxpayer-funded buyout deals cover three leases off the coasts of New York, New Jersey and Maine at a total cost of $653 million.

 

“Using taxpayer money to strike backroom buyouts that make clean-energy projects disappear is illegal,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "Make no mistake: California will continue to hold the Trump Administration accountable for illegally striking deals to kill offshore wind projects.” 

 

“This unlawful agreement is another reckless attempt by the Trump Administration to deny Californians the benefits of offshore wind,” said California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild. “Offshore wind isn’t just about domestic, clean energy – it’s about creating the good-paying jobs and industries of the future.” 

Planning on setting off fireworks July 4th? Read this. before you do!

Another Fourth of July approaches and many of us will be going to fireworks displays and/or setting them off in our own backyards or neighborhoods.

Photo Credit: SJVAPCD

When most people think of the dangers of fireworks (if they bother to think of them at all), they may worry about setting wood shingled roofs on fire or hurting other people by burning them or exploding firecrackers too close to somebody.

But did you realize that July 4ths are typically one of the worst days of the year for air pollution, particularly for particulate matter (PM2.5)?

Local air pollution control district officials would like to remind everyone that fireworks release high levels of PM2.5, smoke, soot, ash, and toxic metals that can adversely affect public health as well as air quality.

These emissions can be especially harmful to children, older adults, and people with asthma or other respiratory illnesses, in addition to physical injuries, fires, excessive noise, and stress for pets and wildlife.

As shown by the above graph, air monitoring stations record very sharp PM2.5 increase spikes that are directly linked to fireworks activity, sometimes four to five times higher than federal health-based standards.

“As families gather to celebrate, we encourage Valley residents to do so responsibly and consider the impacts personal fireworks can have on air quality and public health,” said Jaime Holt, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Chief Communications Officer. "Fireworks activity can lead to significant increases in particle pollution, affecting air quality throughout the Valley and making it difficult for some residents to breathe.”

The SJVAPCD has published a graphic that starkly shows the dangers of fireworks. It can be seen here: Impacts of Fireworks

SJ Valley residents - Is there an air pollution issue that concerns you? Let the SJVAPCD know!

This is directed toward residents of the San Joaquin Valley (the Valley), although it also applies to other California residents when their local air pollution control districts have similar meetings open to the public.

Photo Credit: SJVAPCD

Next month, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (the District) will be holding a virtual Permit Stakeholders Meeting on July 22nd at 1:30 PM. 

Now many people think such meetings only apply to businesses that require permits or are directly impacted by rules and regulations or consultants that work for those companies, however, residents of the Valley are considered to be permit stakeholders as well - their health, jobs, and environment are impacted by what the District does or does not do too!

So, if you have an air pollution concern that you don't think is being handled properly, or, if you simply want to learn more about what the District is doing and plans to do, then you need to register for this virtual meeting. It's free and open to the public.

The agenda for the meeting has yet to be made, but, if you have any topics that you would like the District to consider, then please send an email to Marissa Mak of the District at marissa.mak@valleyair.org.

By doing so, you will get the final agenda emailed to you along with a Zoom link a week prior to the meeting if you'd like to attend.

For further information, you may contact Ms. Mak at 661.392.5605 or check out the District's website at www.valleyair.org.

California files Notice of Intent to File Suit to federal DOI and Golden State Wind over cancelled offshore wind farm plans

As a follow-up to an investigative subpoena issued to Golden State Wind LLC (GSW) that we previously reported on last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California Energy Commission (CEC) Chair David Hochschild today sent a Notice of Intent to File Suit to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and GSW. The action is in response to what California claims is an unlawful agreement between the federal government and GSW to abandon GSW's plan for wind energy project development offshore California.

Photo credit: Golden State Wind website (Fair Use)

Under the agreement, California claims that an illegal $120 million payment to GSW was made to get it to abandon it's offshore energy lease in federal waters offshore California's Central Coast. Furthermore, as part of that agreement, GSW would have to invest an equal amount of money in out-of-state fossil fuel development projects.

In the Notice of Intent to Sue, California alleges that the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) was violated by DOI's buyout deal. OCSLA is supposed to ensure that California has a say in offshore wind leases and to prevent corrupt backroom deals. 

The federal government now has 60 days to reverse its actions or the lawsuit will proceed.

A similar federal deal with another offshore wind energy company, Invenergy, was announced on June 17, 2026. In that deal with DOI, Invenergy will relinquish four offshore wind leases, including a proposed 2-gigawatt project off of the Morro Bay, CA, coast as well as leases off of the Maine and New York coasts. That agreement calls for Invenergy to get a $765 million taxpayer funded buyout and then make an equivalent investment in U.S. natural gas and geothermal projects.

As a result of that deal, California issued a subpoena to Invenergy on June 19, 2026, similar to the earlier one issued to GWS. 

As a result of these deals with DOI, a total of $2.6 billion of taxpayer funds will be spent just to get power companies not to produce clean energy.

Attorney General Bonta commented on the possible lawsuit by saying, "At a time when the country needs more reliable and sustainable power supply, the Trump Administration is busy using taxpayer money to strike backroom buyouts that make clean-energy projects disappear. California won't stand idly by as the Trump Administration illegally strikes deals to kill offshore wind projects and replace them with more windfalls for his fossil fuel friend; we're putting the administration on notice that we intend to sue. California has already made substantial investments in clean wind energy that have advanced California's clean energy goals, created high-quality jobs, and bolstered our economy. My office will continue to fight back aggressively against the Trump Administration's illegal attacks on wind energy projects."

Added CEC Chair Hochschild, "California strongly condemns yet another reckless Trump Administration misuse of taxpayer dollars that undermines clean energy growth and U.S. energy security. California will continue to lead the way toward a cleaner, more reliable grid powered by domestic resources. Offshore wind remains an essential component of that work."