The Trump administration has rescinded a stop-work order that had temporarily halted construction of the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project near New York. The decision clears the way for Equinor, the project’s developer, to resume building the $5 billion installation intended to generate electricity for the state.
According to a report by Just the News, the project had been paused for a month after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued the order, citing concerns that the previous administration under President Biden had “rushed” the federal environmental review process. The pause sparked political and economic concerns, particularly due to the scale of the project and its associated job numbers.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the federal government’s decision to lift the halt following discussions with the White House. She stated:
“I want to thank President Trump for his willingness to work with me to save the 1,500 good paying union jobs that were on the line and helping get this essential project back on track”.
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/trump-lifts-stop-work-order-new-york-offshore-wind-project
Empire Wind 1, which is being developed by the Norway-based energy company Equinor, is projected to deliver 810 megawatts of electricity—reportedly enough to power about 500,000 homes. The company said it welcomed the administration’s decision to allow construction to continue.
“We appreciate the fact that construction can now resume on Empire Wind, a project which underscores our commitment to deliver energy while supporting local economies and creating jobs,” said Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor ASA.
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/trump-lifts-stop-work-order-new-york-offshore-wind-project
Equinor had previously warned that it might abandon the project if the stop-work order was not lifted, citing construction delays that were costing the company up to $50 million per week. The company has already invested more than $2.5 billion in the development, which is approximately one-third complete.
The resumption of the project also follows legal and political tensions. New York and other northeastern states had filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, contesting its authority to indefinitely halt federal wind-energy approvals under an executive order issued on January 20. The legal challenges reflect broader disputes over the federal government’s role in regulating offshore wind development and its alignment with state-level clean energy goals.
Former President Biden’s administration had aimed to develop 35 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030, starting with projects such as Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts. The Empire Wind 1 project is one of several large-scale efforts along the U.S. East Coast that form part of state and federal clean energy targets.
For now, the lifting of the stop-work order represents a significant step toward the project’s completion and a continuation of New York’s attempt at an energy transition, though broader debates over offshore wind’s environmental and economic implications remain active.
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