Interior Dept in the news for offshore wind, land-use rollbacks, and park/policy fights. Agency in charge of federal lands and Nat’l resources.
The US Interior Department announced that TotalEnergies will receive nearly $928 million to cancel offshore wind leases off North Carolina and New York. The company will instead invest in US fossil fuel projects, including a liquefied natural gas plant in Texas, reflecting a shift away from renewable energy under the current administration.
A wave of government actions has seen offshore wind leases bought out and reallocated to fossil-fuel projects, with about $2B in reimbursements promised to developers who abandon wind plans. This follows court rulings that have blocked or rolled back some Trump-era restrictions, while some projects in California and New Jersey move forward under renewed scrutiny.
The Biden-era rule prioritizing conservation and restoration on public lands overseen by the BLM has been repealed. The move, announced in the Federal Register, aims to restore the federal land-use balance by rebalancing development interests with conservation, recreation and renewable energy goals.