Interior Secretary cites permit concerns; industry and local leaders warn of economic, energy fallout
According to The Washington Post, the Trump administration has ordered a sudden stop to construction on the Empire Wind 1 project, a major offshore wind development off New York’s coast, despite the project being fully permitted and already underway.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the decision on Wednesday, directing staff to “immediately halt all construction activities on the Empire Wind Project until further review,” citing concerns that the Biden administration had allegedly fast-tracked approvals without adequate analysis. He shared the announcement via social media, but did not elaborate on what specific aspects of the permitting process might have been rushed.
Empire Wind 1, spearheaded by Norwegian energy giant Equinor, began onshore construction in 2024, focusing on revitalizing a long-neglected marine terminal in South Brooklyn. Offshore operations were slated to begin this year. The project is expected to deliver 810 megawatts of energy—enough to power roughly 500,000 homes—and support more than 1,500 jobs.
Empire Wind 1 is a major offshore wind project off the coast of New York, expected to generate 810 megawatts of clean energy—enough to power over 500,000 homes—once operational.
In a statement, Equinor spokesperson David Schoetz said the company would engage with the administration “to understand the questions raised about the permits we have received from authorities,” but declined to comment further until more information becomes available.
The move marks a sharp escalation in President Donald Trump’s longstanding opposition to wind energy. On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order freezing all new approvals for offshore wind projects, but developers had hoped that projects already permitted—like Empire Wind 1—would be allowed to continue.
Industry leaders reacted swiftly. Jason Grumet, president of the American Clean Power Association, criticized the decision as politically driven. “Doubling back to reconsider permits after projects are under construction sends a chilling signal to all energy investment,” he said. “These political reversals are bad policy, whether applied to pipelines or wind farms.”
Climate Jobs New York, a coalition of labor unions, also condemned the pause, noting New York’s rising electricity demand and warning that the decision could jeopardize both energy security and union jobs. “At a time when energy demand and utility bills are rising across New York, we need to build more energy, not less,” the group stated.
The interruption could also pose a significant setback to New York State’s climate goals. Under its 2019 climate law, New York committed to generating 70% of its energy from renewables by 2030, and to building 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2035. Without Empire Wind, achieving those targets becomes more difficult.
Governor Kathy Hochul strongly opposed the federal decision, calling it “federal overreach.” “I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New York’s economic future,” she declared.
President Trump has long criticized wind turbines, notably opposing offshore installations near a golf course he owns in Scotland more than a decade ago.
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