The Trump administration has handed out a staggering $1.2 billion to German utility RWE, effectively killing off plans for offshore wind farms off the coasts of California, Louisiana and New York.
In exchange, RWE will invest $900 million in a natural gas plant in Louisiana and pocket an additional $300 million for new turbines needed to power peaking plants, which are some of the most polluting in the country. The deal is part of a broader pattern where renewables lose out to fossil fuels.
The total cost so far? A whopping $3.93 billion across 12 leases abandoned under Trump’s watch. This money could have funded significant renewable projects, but instead, it's being used for natural gas infrastructure, which contradicts the administration’s energy policies.
Despite this setback, RWE remains committed to offshore wind elsewhere, having secured 6.9 gigawatts of capacity in a UK auction. The irony is palpable: while the US backs away from its green commitments, Europe presses on.
