German energy company RWE has reached a $1.22 billion agreement with the Trump administration to cancel three offshore wind leases in US waters and redirect the money toward fossil-fuel investments, Reuters and other outlets reported Thursday. It is the fifth deal of its kind this year; together the settlements total roughly $4 billion in public money used to end planned wind projects off US coasts.

The deals are the latest step in the administration's push to halt offshore wind development, which it says is uneconomic and harmful to marine life — drawing sharp criticism from environmental groups and clean-energy advocates who call the payouts a costly taxpayer-funded giveaway. Earlier settlements covered leases off New York, California, Louisiana and North Carolina. RWE's agreement, covering projects including one off California, is among the largest single payouts so far.

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