Two top US Democrats have written to TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné demanding answers about the French oil-major’s deal with the Trump Administration that saw the company receive nearly $1bn for handing back offshore wind leases.
“The agreement with TotalEnergies is outrageous,” reads the letter from Representatives Jared Huffman and Jamie Raskin.
“It directly undercuts American energy security by ending offshore wind leases that would have provided reliable, affordable energy for American families.”
Huffman is the ranking member on the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, while Raskin is the ranking member of the House Committee on the Judiciary.
“The agreement with TotalEnergies is almost certainly unlawful,” the two congressmen wrote.
The letter goes on to request records from the developer, including documents and communications referring to or relating to the relinquishment of the two leases off the coasts of New York and the Carolinas.
The congressmen are also asking Pouyanné to tell them which other lessees are pursuing similar arrangements, and which federal official told Total that the reimbursement offer would be made to other leaseholders.
Raskin and Huffman also ask Pouyanné in the letter if the promised investments in US fossil fuel development represents capital not previously committed or planned before the settlement negotiations, and if any of the announced expenditures are already contractually obligated under pre-existing agreements.
The congressmen set a deadline of 20 April.