The US state of California has subpoenaed Ocean Winds-Reventus joint venture Golden State Wind for documents related to the developer’s agreement with the Trump administration to exit a lease off the west coast.
California Energy Commission (CEC) Chair David Hochschild said: “The Trump Administration is recklessly spending billions of taxpayer dollars on backroom deals that would turn back the clock on innovation.
“Californians deserve immediate answers about the nature of this payout.
“Taxpayer dollars should be used to build a sustainable energy future, not to pay to make projects disappear.”
Ocean Winds agreed last month to hand back a lease in Morro Bay in northern California, alongside a lease off the coast of New York, in exchange for nearly $1bn.
In a letter sent to Golden State Wind manager Michael Brown, CEC Executive Director Drew Bohan wrote: “Golden State Wind’s taxpayer-funded lease buyout deal announced last week undermines significant investments made by the State of California and other public entities in California to develop the transmission and port infrastructure necessary for offshore wind projects, which were made in reliance on commitments by Golden State Wind and other companies who hold leases to develop offshore wind projects off the coast of California, as well as by the federal government.”
Bohan detailed $100m worth of investments into offshore wind infrastructure around the state.