Construction on New York’s first major offshore wind project was suspended on Thursday following a stop-work order issued by the Trump administration, presenting a potential shift in the future of a city-owned Brooklyn port that is home to operations supporting the project.
Empire Wind 1, developed by the Norwegian company Equinor, had just initiated work in the ocean off the coast of Long Island this month, after the land-side construction began last year.
The ambitious project featuring 54 turbines, set to be located 14 miles off Jones Beach State Park, aims to power approximately half a million homes in New York City, with an expected completion date in 2027.
The endeavor has already garnered billions of dollars of private investment alongside tens of millions from public coffers, with promises of generating thousands of well-paying jobs.
On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum instructed the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to issue a stop-work order for Empire Wind’s construction, signaling a review of the project’s permitting process.
This directive aligns with President Donald Trump’s historic skepticism toward wind projects, but the halt of an actively permitted project appears to extend beyond Trump’s executive orders that aim to stall future federal leases and permits for offshore wind initiatives while federal agencies assess their environmental and economic implications.
In response, Equinor stated they are actively engaging with relevant authorities to clarify the situation and are considering legal remedies, including an appeal of the stop-work order.
As the federal crackdown continues, uncertainty looms over how far the Trump administration will reach regarding wind projects.
Although Empire Wind 1 seemed poised to advance despite the presidential order, the latest halt denotes a considerable setback for an industry already struggling with supply chain disruptions and inflation stemming from the pandemic, factors that have jeopardized the financial feasibility of numerous projects nationwide.
The suspension raises critical questions about New York State’s capacity to develop sufficient renewable energy to meet future electric demands and legally mandated targets, thus endangering the anticipated economic boost the industry was supposed to provide locally.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed determination, stating, “We’re going to communicate and do everything that’s possible to get this job, get this project, moving forward.”
Governor Kathy Hochul underscored her refusal to accept federal overreach, emphasizing that the project is fully permitted and had commenced work before the president’s executive orders were issued.
“This fully federally permitted project has already put shovels in the ground before the president’s executive orders — it’s exactly the type of bipartisan energy solution we should be working on,” she said.
State officials excoriated the actions of the Trump administration, citing them as counterproductive to Trump’s promises regarding U.S. energy independence.
Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, condemned the stop-work order as politically motivated and detrimental.
Harris stated it “goes against the Trump administration’s own prioritization of independent and locally produced energy” and exhibits “complete disregard for a once-in-a-generation economic powerhouse like offshore wind energy.”
The Department of Public Service, another state agency, characterized the stop-work order as detrimental to New Yorkers, asserting, “Stopping an already fully permitted project is bad for New York workers, bad for New York energy needs, and bad for business.
This action shows the world that federal commitments aren’t worth the paper they are printed on.”
In Burgum’s communication to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, he mentioned that new information had surfaced raising “serious issues” concerning Empire Wind’s approvals, without providing specific details.
He asserted that the stop-work order would remain effective until further review resolves these purported deficiencies.
Offshore wind projects are central to New York City’s efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
The state’s climate legislation mandates a zero-emissions electric grid by 2040 and prescribes the development of nine gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2035, enough to cater to nearly six million homes.
Empire Wind 1 is expected to contribute approximately 9% towards that goal.
Alicia Gené Artessa, director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, warned that halting Empire Wind would lead to increased reliance on imported energy and hinder job creation and economic development in New York, while also compromising grid reliability.
Equinor is simultaneously transforming the city-owned South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, into a base for operations and maintenance supporting Empire Wind.
The 73-acre terminal has been under redevelopment since last May and is envisioned as a connection point to the project’s electric grid.
It is projected to be the largest port dedicated to offshore wind in the United States.
The city Economic Development Corporation, which oversees the terminal’s redevelopment, declined to comment, opting instead to refer inquiries to City Hall.
Equinor had been strategizing for the terminal to serve functions beyond supporting wind projects, as indicated in the October meeting minutes of the EDC board of directors’ real estate and finance committee.
EDC officials highlighted that Equinor’s contract with the state was terminated in January 2024 due to financial hurdles even before Trump’s second term, which necessitated the inclusion of other users at the terminal.
By June, the company secured a new contract with New York to advance the project.
The combined value of the revitalized marine terminal and the Empire Wind initiative amounts to approximately $2.5 billion, as reported by Equinor.
Construction on both the wind project and the terminal has mobilized over 1,500 workers, representing a significant labor investment in the local community.
Beyond local construction, Empire Wind’s influence reverberates nationally, with over 100 American companies contracted with Equinor for various project needs, resulting in a supply chain that spans nearly half of U.S. states and comprises over 3,500 jobs, according to the Oceantic Network, a trade organization for the offshore wind sector.
“Preventing a permitted and financed energy project from moving forward sends a loud and clear message to all businesses, beyond those in the offshore wind industry, that their investment in the U.S. is not safe,” remarked Liz Burdock, president and CEO of Oceantic.
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