Padilla, Schumer Slam Trump Administration’s Efforts to Undo Offshore Wind Energy Projects, Killing Jobs, and Raising Energy Costs

Administration efforts to curtail new renewable energy projects could cost American families an additional $11.6 billion annually WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) slammed the Trump Administration’s efforts to undo Invenergy’s offshore wind projects, including the Even Keel Wind project off California’s central coast. The Trump Administration said Invenergy would be paid $765 million — the value of its offshore wind leases in California, New York, and Maine — to abandon the projects. “California has the potential to power millions of homes with renewable, offshore wind energy. At a time when energy prices are spiraling out of control due to Trump’s war with Iran, it is more critical than ever that we transition to power sources that keep monthly utility bills low and predictable for working families,” Senator Padilla said. “The Trump Administration is doing everything it can to kill the renewable energy industry, putting up arbitrary roadblocks for solar and wind while continuing to throw incentives at fossil fuels. By stalling critical approvals, the Trump Administration is driving away private investment, denying our communities thousands of good-paying jobs, and costing American families more on their energy bills.” “Trump has now spent $2.6 billion in taxpayer money to kill offshore wind projects, that would have lowered Americans’ energy bills,” said Leader Schumer. “Right when families need more power on the grid to bring down rising costs, Trump is cutting energy off—and forcing Americans to pay for it. These projects represented thousands of good union jobs, millions of homes’ worth of electricity, and billions in economic development. Any blackouts in New York will now rest squarely on the shoulders of Donald Trump.” Even Keel Wind is the second California offshore wind lease that the Trump Administration has pressured private companies to walk away from, following the administration’s April agreement with Golden State Wind to cancel its planned project in exchange for investments in fossil fuels. The two projects would have generated approximately 4 gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power 2 million California homes. Offshore wind delivers reliable, affordable power – insulating American families from price shocks like those driven by Trump’s war with Iran. The Trump Administration has increased subsidies to fossil fuel companies and recklessly pushed to increase oil drilling off of California’s coast while simultaneously curtailing offshore wind and clean energy development. According to a recent Corporate Energy Buyers Association ( CEBA ) report, the Trump Administration’s efforts to curtail new solar and wind could cost American families an additional $11.6 billion annually in electricity and natural gas bills. Padilla has fought to protect California from the Trump Administration’s efforts to kill renewable energy projects and promote new oil drilling off the coast. Earlier this month, Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to establish strict standards for offshore oil and gas operators and set requirements to hold them responsible for decommissioning and cleanup efforts off the coast. Last month, Padilla and Schiff launched an investigation into Sable’s politicized efforts to restart oil drilling operations off the Santa Barbara coast, and pointed to concerning financial ties between Sable and President Trump, including executives at Sable directly contributing to the president’s campaigns. In April, Padilla pressed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, highlighting that the Trump Administration’s plans to drill off of California’s coast coupled with proposed cuts to funding for environmental programs and enforcement will endanger the coastline, the people who live there, and coastal economies. In March, Padilla called on his colleagues to revoke the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) arbitrary and vengeful rule that is making it significantly harder for wind and solar projects to qualify for clean energy tax credits. Last year, the Senators introduced the West Coast Protection Act to permanently prohibit new oil and gas leases for offshore drilling off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. ###