California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration and offshore wind developer Golden State Wind, challenging an agreement that terminated a planned floating wind farm off the state’s Central Coast. According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the northern district of California, the state’s Attorney General argued that the administration unlawfully used $120 million in federal funds to reimburse Golden State Wind for surrendering an offshore wind lease the company had acquired during a 2022 federal auction.
The canceled project would have developed a two-gigawatt floating wind farm with significant implications for California’s energy infrastructure and workforce. Golden State Wind, formed through a partnership between UK-based investment firm Reventus Power and Ocean Winds—a joint venture between French energy company ENGIE and Portuguese renewable energy provider EDP Renewables—had planned to invest approximately $30 million in workforce training, supply-chain development, and community benefits.
California’s legal action centers on claims that the administration’s decision violated federal law and should be invalidated. The state contends the transaction caused economic harm, including the loss of thousands of potential jobs and approximately $100 million in planned investments. Beyond employment and economic concerns, state officials cited impacts on air quality, climate outcomes, and utility costs for ratepayers.
The outcome of the litigation remains uncertain, particularly given the current composition of the Supreme Court should the case reach that level on appeal. The state has filed the lawsuit seeking to overturn the April agreement between the federal government and the wind developer.
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