Democratic attorneys general from California and New York have sued the Trump administration over its decision to buy back offshore wind energy leases, a move critics argue favors fossil fuels over clean energy expansion. The administration announced in June that it would repurchase leases for four offshore wind projects from Chicago-based Invenergy, located on both the East and West coasts. California Attorney General Rob Bonta specifically targeted the removal of a planned project off his state’s coast, while New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of seven states in legal action against the Invenergy deal and another with Bluepoint Wind, which recently halted a planned wind farm near New York and New Jersey. These agreements would provide energy companies $1.4 billion in taxpayer funds in exchange for canceling multiple offshore wind projects, with the Trump administration having committed nearly $4 billion overall to such deals. James called the agreements illegal, arguing they would raise electricity costs by undermining states’ ability to meet growing energy demands. In a statement, she said, “Americans are facing increasing energy costs because this administration would rather pay off energy companies than let us build the new power sources we need.” She added that the deals divert funds that could have been used to lower energy bills in New York and instead benefit fossil fuel projects in other states. Bonta echoed these concerns, stating that California, a global leader in climate action, is facing “avoidable and unnecessary battles” with the federal government to advance clean energy initiatives. Trump has long opposed wind energy, often expressing a desire to prevent the construction of any “windmills.” Offshore wind power produces electricity without emitting carbon pollution, unlike oil, coal, and natural gas, which release greenhouse gases when burned. Speaking at a Climate Week event in New York City, Bonta emphasized the urgency of climate action, saying that the need to challenge unlawful actions by the Trump administration delays progress. “We’re still all in, in California,” he said, vowing to push forward with climate initiatives regardless of federal opposition. The legal challenges against the Trump administration’s offshore wind buybacks were joined by attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont, all of whom support expanding clean energy and oppose the administration’s policies that favor fossil fuels.