What Happened to TotalEnergies US Offshore Wind Project Cancellations?
TotalEnergies has officially exited the U.S. offshore wind market, relinquishing two major leases for the Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay projects off the coasts of New York and North Carolina. This decision, finalized on March 23, 2026, came after reaching a nearly $1 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, which will see the company redirect these funds into U.S. oil and natural gas production and exports.
Quick Answer
TotalEnergies cancelled its significant offshore wind projects in the U.S., specifically the Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay leases, following a March 23, 2026, agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The French energy giant received a reimbursement of approximately $928 million for these leases and has committed to reinvesting an equivalent amount into U.S. oil and natural gas infrastructure, including the Rio Grande LNG plant in Texas. This move aligns with the Trump administration's energy policy prioritizing fossil fuels and reflects TotalEnergies' assessment that U.S. offshore wind developments are currently too costly and not in the country's interest.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
TotalEnergies Secures New York Bight Lease
TotalEnergies, through its Attentive Energy unit, won a lease in the New York Bight for $795 million, intending to develop over 3 gigawatts of offshore wind power.
TotalEnergies Secures Carolina Long Bay Lease
TotalEnergies secured a 1-gigawatt lease offshore North Carolina (Carolina Long Bay) for $160 million (or $133 million) in the same year.
Joint Venture for Attentive Energy Project
TotalEnergies formed a joint venture for the development of the Attentive Energy offshore wind project off the coast of New York.
Attentive Energy One Project Stalled by New York State
The Attentive Energy One project within the New York Bight lease was stalled when New York State announced it would not proceed with a contract award.
TotalEnergies Pauses Attentive Energy Project
TotalEnergies paused the development of its Attentive Energy project after Donald Trump's U.S. presidential election victory, citing political uncertainties.
Trump Administration Pauses New Offshore Wind Projects
The Trump administration issued a Presidential Memorandum that paused new offshore wind projects, creating a climate of regulatory uncertainty.
BOEM Issues Stop-Work Orders on Other Projects
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued stop-work orders against five utility-scale offshore wind projects, though these were later struck down in federal court.
Federal Judges Strike Down Stop-Work Orders
Federal judges struck down the Trump administration's attempts to halt five utility-scale offshore wind projects, indicating legal challenges to the administration's anti-wind policies.
Reports Emerge of Potential $1 Billion Buyout
Reports, citing The New York Times, indicate the Trump administration is drafting settlement agreements to pay TotalEnergies nearly $1 billion to cancel its two offshore wind projects.
TotalEnergies and US DOI Sign Cancellation Agreement
TotalEnergies and the U.S. Department of the Interior signed an agreement to terminate the Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay offshore wind leases. TotalEnergies will receive approximately $928 million in reimbursement.
TotalEnergies Pledges to Exit US Offshore Wind
As part of the settlement, TotalEnergies committed to not developing any new offshore wind projects in the United States, citing that the technology is too costly in the U.S. and not in the country's interest.
Funds Redirected to US Oil and Gas Projects
TotalEnergies announced it would invest the $928 million reimbursement into U.S. oil and natural gas production and exports, including the Rio Grande LNG plant in Texas and upstream conventional oil and shale gas.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The cancellation of TotalEnergies' major U.S. offshore wind projects marks a significant turning point in the American renewable energy landscape. On March 23, 2026, TotalEnergies signed settlement agreements with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to relinquish its leases for the Attentive Energy project in the New York Bight and the Carolina Long Bay project off North Carolina. This agreement effectively ends TotalEnergies' ambitions in U.S. offshore wind development.
The primary reasons behind this cancellation are multifaceted, stemming from both economic challenges and a shifting political climate. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné stated that the company's studies indicated U.S. offshore wind developments were "too costly" and could negatively impact power affordability for consumers, unlike projects in Europe. This sentiment was exacerbated by the regulatory and political uncertainties introduced by the Trump administration, which has actively pursued an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy prioritizing fossil fuels.
Key turning points began in 2022 when TotalEnergies secured the Attentive Energy lease for $795 million and the Carolina Long Bay lease for $160 million (or approximately $133 million according to some sources). However, following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, TotalEnergies paused its Attentive Energy project in November 2024, citing political uncertainties. The Trump administration subsequently issued a Presidential Memorandum in January 2025, pausing new offshore wind projects, and faced legal challenges after issuing stop-work orders on other projects in December 2025, which were later struck down by federal judges in February 2026.
The culmination was the March 2026 settlement, where the U.S. government agreed to reimburse TotalEnergies approximately $928 million (or nearly $1 billion) for the cancelled leases. In return, TotalEnergies pledged to invest an equivalent amount into U.S. oil and natural gas production and exports, specifically mentioning the Rio Grande LNG plant in Texas and the development of upstream conventional oil in the Gulf of Mexico and shale gas production. This strategic pivot aligns with the administration's goal to increase domestic fossil fuel production.
The consequences of this cancellation are significant. For TotalEnergies, it represents a de-risking of its U.S. portfolio and a reallocation of capital to what it deems more economically viable energy ventures in the U.S. For the U.S. offshore wind industry, it is seen as a major blow, with environmental groups criticizing the use of taxpayer funds to block clean energy projects. As of March 24, 2026, TotalEnergies has officially exited the U.S. offshore wind market, with the agreement signed and funds being redirected, and the company has committed to not developing any new offshore wind projects in the country.
What If...?
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