Norwegian energy company Equinor is set to resume construction on its offshore wind project in New York following the Trump administration’s decision to lift a previously imposed halt on the project. Known as Empire Wind 1, this project is poised to become the first offshore wind initiative supplying electricity directly to New York City. Initially approved by the Interior Department during the Biden administration, the project had faced a setback when Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered a halt on April 16, citing insufficient analysis and consultation during the approval process. This decision raised concerns among investors about potential future restrictions on already approved wind projects.
After multiple discussions with Equinor and White House officials, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the stop-work order had been rescinded, allowing the project to proceed. Empire Wind is expected to support 1,500 union jobs, with Equinor aiming to maintain its timeline for commercial operations to begin in 2027. The project, which has seen a $2.5 billion investment from Equinor, is currently over 30% complete, with plans to construct 54 turbines capable of generating 810 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to power approximately 500,000 homes.
The decision to lift the halt reportedly involved negotiations related to natural gas pipeline capacity, with Secretary Burgum expressing optimism about increased access to affordable American natural gas. While Governor Hochul did not directly address natural gas in her statements, she reiterated New York’s commitment to collaborating on new energy projects that comply with state laws, despite the state’s historical opposition to new gas pipelines.
President Trump has previously expressed skepticism towards the wind energy sector, citing environmental and economic concerns. His administration’s initial executive order had banned new leases for offshore wind development, reflecting an ongoing tension between achieving energy dominance and supporting renewable energy initiatives.
Elsewhere on the Eastern Seaboard, three other offshore wind projects are underway. Revolution and Sunrise Wind projects in New England, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, are progressing at different stages of completion. Dominion Energy anticipates that its Coastal Virginia project will begin delivering electricity by early 2026, while Orsted remains committed to completing Revolution and Sunrise despite challenges, with substantial progress already made on both projects.
