Engie is talking to the Trump administration about canceling its U.S. offshore wind leases, even as a similar $1 billion deal with TotalEnergies sparks legal concerns.
By Maria Gallucci, Canary Media, 24 April 2026
A second French energy firm is pursuing a refund on its U.S. offshore wind leases — and analysts say the trend could spread further, despite major legal questions about the Trump administration’s approach.
Engie, which had been planning three U.S. projects, is in talks with the administration about forfeiting the company’s offshore wind leases in exchange for reimbursement. Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor disclosed the development on April 21, a month after the French oil giant TotalEnergies struck a similar deal with the U.S. Department of the Interior for nearly $1 billion.
“Discussions are ongoing, and we’ll see if an agreement is possible,” MacGregor told reporters at a press meeting in Paris.
“Economically and also in terms of public acceptance, I strongly believe in offshore wind power,” she added. However, “One must be able to say that energy policy is stable enough, whatever the political color of the government,” to continue investing in the clean energy resource.
Engie builds offshore wind farms through Ocean Winds, its joint venture with the Portuguese developer EDP Renewables. The entity previously bid roughly $1 billion for three lease areas off the coasts of California, Massachusetts, and New York, where it planned to build projects totaling 6.8 gigawatts. That power capacity would go a long way in helping those regions cut planet-warming pollution and meet rising electricity demand.
