TotalEnergies Pauses U.S. Offshore Wind Project Following Trump Election Victory.
TotalEnergies, the French energy giant, has announced a halt to its offshore wind project off the coast of New York following the U.S. election victory of Donald Trump. The development was confirmed by the company’s CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, during the Energy Intelligence Forum on Tuesday.
The project, known as the Attentive Energy offshore wind farm, was launched in October 2023 through a joint venture involving TotalEnergies, Corio Generation, and Rise Light & Power. TotalEnergies holds a 56% stake in the venture, with Corio and Rise Light & Power owning 27.7% and 16.3%, respectively.
Pouyanne cited the political shift in the U.S. as a key reason for the decision. “In offshore wind, I decided to put the project on pause because all the offshore wind projects are in Democratic states,” he said. He added that the company would reassess the project after four years, referring to the duration of the upcoming administration.
Despite the pause, Pouyanne expressed optimism about revisiting the project in the future, noting, “The advantage is that it’s only for four years.”
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The decision underscores the challenges facing renewable energy initiatives in the United States amidst shifting political priorities. Offshore wind projects, in particular, have been a cornerstone of climate policy in Democratic-led states but face potential headwinds under an administration that previously rolled back renewable energy initiatives.
The Attentive Energy project, designed to contribute significantly to New York’s renewable energy goals, now faces uncertainty as stakeholders await clarity on the policy direction under the new administration.
