Press ReleaseNeutral2026-07-21

Congresswomen Ross, Foushee, Adams Demand Answers from Duke Energy on Trump Admin Deal to Cancel Offshore Wind Lease

EconomyClimateLaborInfrastructure

Context

This press release from Representative Deborah K. Ross (D-NC) was published on 2026-07-21 and titled "Congresswomen Ross, Foushee, Adams Demand Answers from Duke Energy on Trump Admin Deal to Cancel Offshore Wind Lease".

Full Text

Congresswomen Ross, Foushee, Adams Demand Answers from Duke Energy on Trump Admin Deal to Cancel Offshore Wind Lease

Washington, D.C. - Today, North Carolina Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Alma Adams (NC-12) demanded answers from Duke Energy after the company accepted $129 million from the Trump administration to abandon the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease. As Duke seeks to raise energy prices by 11.6%, this deal appears to send a message that Duke Energy prioritizes the President's favor over providing clean, affordable energy to North Carolinians. The lawmakers outlined how these payments appear to demonstrate a concerted effort by the Trump administration to pay c ompanies to abandon the offshore wind energy market and instead invest in oil and gas production. They wrote, "In recent months, multiple offshore wind projects and lease areas across the country have been canceled by the Trump administration in exchange for payouts to the leaseholders and promises to reinvest those funds into fossil fuel projects and infrastructure. These payouts come on the heels of court orders halting the Trump administration's attempts to unilaterally block these projects. Your company's acceptance of this payout from the Trump administration now strikes many observers as a quid pro quo." They went on to outline how Duke Energy's decision will hurt North Carolina's economy, workforce, and clean energy goals. "The Carolina Long Bay project represented one of the best opportunities to develop offshore wind energy off North Carolina's coast," they wrote. " Your company's decision to terminate its lease will have impacts beyond this single project. It may affect future private investment, workforce development, transmission planning, and public confidence in North Carolina's ability to develop new sources of clean electricity." The members are demanding answers from Duke Energy about this payment, including a ll documents and communications related to its withdrawal from the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease. In May, Congresswoman Ross led her colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump administration about nearly $2 billion in payouts to energy companies to terminate offshore wind projects. In addition to being a Co-Chair of the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus, Congresswoman Ross is the Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Offshore wind development has been one of her signature issues in Congress, including successfully pushing to repeal the 10-year offshore wind leasing moratorium off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida through the Inflation Reduction Act . Full text of the letter is available here . ###

View original source →

Congresswomen Ross, Foushee, Adams Demand Answers from Duke Energy on Trump Admin Deal to Cancel Offshore Wind Lease Washington, D.C. - Today, North Carolina Congresswomen Deborah Ross (NC-02), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), and Alma Adams (NC-12) demanded answers from Duke Energy after the company accepted $129 million from the Trump administration to abandon the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease. As Duke seeks to raise energy prices by 11.6%, this deal appears to send a message that Duke Energy prioritizes the President's favor over providing clean, affordable energy to North Carolinians. The lawmakers outlined how these payments appear to demonstrate a concerted effort by the Trump administration to pay c ompanies to abandon the offshore wind energy market and instead invest in oil and gas production. They wrote, "In recent months, multiple offshore wind projects and lease areas across the country have been canceled by the Trump administration in exchange for payouts to the leaseholders and promises to reinvest those funds into fossil fuel projects and infrastructure. These payouts come on the heels of court orders halting the Trump administration's attempts to unilaterally block these projects. Your company's acceptance of this payout from the Trump administration now strikes many observers as a quid pro quo." They went on to outline how Duke Energy's decision will hurt North Carolina's economy, workforce, and clean energy goals. "The Carolina Long Bay project represented one of the best opportunities to develop offshore wind energy off North Carolina's coast," they wrote. " Your company's decision to terminate its lease will have impacts beyond this single project. It may affect future private investment, workforce development, transmission planning, and public confidence in North Carolina's ability to develop new sources of clean electricity." The members are demanding answers from Duke Energy about this payment, including a ll documents and communications related to its withdrawal from the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease. In May, Congresswoman Ross led her colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump administration about nearly $2 billion in payouts to energy companies to terminate offshore wind projects. In addition to being a Co-Chair of the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus, Congresswoman Ross is the Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Offshore wind development has been one of her signature issues in Congress, including successfully pushing to repeal the 10-year offshore wind leasing moratorium off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida through the Inflation Reduction Act . Full text of the letter is available here . ###