The Indicator from Planet Money · Monday, August 10, 2026
French energy company Total Energies, as part of its agreement to sell back wind lease rights to the federal government, is reinvesting the funds into a major natural gas plant in Texas. This decision, according to an energy expert, is misguided as it focuses on a technology that is not likely to be the future, given its pollution output.
“In a press release, French company Total Energies argued that wind projects aren't in the US's interests anymore. And as part of its agreement with the Trump administration, it's reinvesting that money into a major natural gas plant in Brownsville, Texas.”
“Severin says this is misguided. We know that they put out significant greenhouse gases and other pollution, and so I think that that's really investing in a technology that, uh, is not likely to be the future.”