Finance
France's Engie Discussing Refund for Offshore Wind Projects With Trump Administration
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 21, 2026
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French utility Engie is negotiating with the Trump administration over a possible reimbursement for its halted U.S. offshore wind project leases, following a similar deal secured by TotalEnergies that shifted nearly $1 billion from wind back to U.S. oil and gas investments.
Engie Discusses Offshore Wind Project Refunds with Trump Administration
Engie's Offshore Wind Projects and Discussions with U.S. Administration
By Forrest Crellin
Background and Current Negotiations
PARIS, April 21 (Reuters) - French utility Engie is in talks with the Trump administration about a possible refund for its offshore wind project leases amid the president's opposition to the technology, CEO Catherine MacGregor said on Tuesday.
Industry Context
Any deal would follow French oil major TotalEnergies redirecting nearly $1 billion (850 million euros) from offshore wind leases to U.S. oil and natural gas production.
Statements from Engie CEO
"We'll see about these terms, an agreement is possible depending on the discussions," MacGregor said at a press breakfast.
"But honestly ... there's going to be a change in government, and I think (offshore wind permitting) comes back," she added.
Impact on Engie's Projects
Engie has paused three U.S. offshore wind projects in development and booked impairments for its joint venture Ocean Winds since Trump returned to the White House last year.
Trump Administration's Stance on Offshore Wind
Trump has said he finds wind turbines ugly, costly and inefficient, and his administration has moved to increase domestic fossil fuel production.
MacGregor's Perspective on Offshore Wind
"Economically and also in terms of public acceptance, I strongly believe in offshore wind power. Of course, you have to plan the projects well, you have to involve the fishermen," she said.
Exchange Rate Information
(1 euro = $1.1759)
(Reporting by Forrest Crellin. Editing by Mark Potter)
Key Takeaways
- •Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor confirmed discussions are underway with the Trump administration about a refund for paused U.S. offshore wind projects, though outcomes remain uncertain.
- •TotalEnergies struck a precedent-setting agreement on March 23, 2026, to recover approximately $928 million in wind lease fees in exchange for redirecting those funds into U.S. oil and gas ventures under Trump’s energy policy (totalenergies.com).
- •Past U.S. policies under Trump have already caused delays and impairments for offshore wind ventures, including Engine’s Ocean Winds JV facing postponements and value write-downs amid federal reviews (enerdata.net).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about France's Engie discussing refund for offshore wind projects with Trump administration
1Why is Engie seeking a refund for its offshore wind projects?
Engie is negotiating a refund due to the Trump administration's opposition to offshore wind technology and changes in U.S. energy policy.
2What prompted Engie to pause its U.S. offshore wind developments?
Engie paused three U.S. offshore wind projects after the Trump administration increased support for domestic fossil fuels and imposed new restrictions on wind energy.
3How has TotalEnergies responded to U.S. offshore wind policy changes?
TotalEnergies redirected nearly $1 billion from offshore wind leases to U.S. oil and gas production in response to the policy shift.
4Does Engie’s CEO believe offshore wind could return in the U.S.?
CEO Catherine MacGregor believes that offshore wind permitting may come back if there's a change in government.
5What are Engie’s views on public acceptance of offshore wind?
MacGregor states that public acceptance can be achieved if offshore wind projects are well-planned and involve stakeholders like fishermen.
