Trump Admin Lifts Stop Work Order on New York Offshore Wind Project

About 30 percent of the project has already been completed, according to developer Equinor.

South Brookly Marine Terminal, which is being developed into a staging facility for Equinor's Empire Wind offshore wind project, in an undated aerial photograph in New York City. Equinor/Handout via Reuters

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on May 19 that the Trump administration has agreed to lift the stop-work order on a major wind project off New York’s coast, which has been on hold since last month.

The project, Empire Wind, was approved by the former Biden administration last year but Interior Secretary Doug Burgum halted it for review on April 16, citing insufficient analysis at the time of approval.

Hochul announced that President Donald Trump and Burgum have now authorized the project to resume after her office engaged in “countless conversations” with developer Equinor and White House officials.

“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,” the governor said in a statement.

“New York’s economic future is going to be powered by abundant, clean energy that helps our homes and businesses thrive. I fought to save clean energy jobs in New York—and we got it done,” Hochul added.

Equinor, a Norway-based company, also thanked Trump for allowing the project to resume and expressed appreciation to Hochul for her efforts, saying that it will help supply energy to half a million homes in New York.

In a separate statement, the developer said that it would work with suppliers and regulatory bodies to minimize the impact of the stop-work order on construction activities.

About 30 percent of the project has already been completed, according to the company. Empire Wind is expected to start generating electricity in 2027.

“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,” Equinor president and CEO Anders Opedal said in the statement.

The Interior Department did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.

Equinor secured the federal lease in March 2017 during Trump’s first term, and received approval from the state of New York in December 2023. The Biden administration granted final approval for the construction and operations plan in February 2024, according to the project’s website.

Burgum said on April 16 that the former administration had rushed through its approval for Empire Wind “without sufficient analysis” and ordered a halt on the project.

The project, located 15 to 30 miles southeast of Long Island, was being developed in two phases. Empire Wind 1 is projected to produce 810 megawatts of electricity to 500,000 homes in New York.

Equinor stated that Empire Wind 1 will contribute to New York’s goal of securing 9 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2035. The second phase of the project remains in the early stages.

The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) praised the Trump administration for its prompt review of the project, saying that it plays a vital role in advancing the nation’s energy production.

“The administration is clearing the way for major investments to move forward—activating American shipyards, creating high-quality jobs, and accelerating the buildout of infrastructure needed to deliver reliable, domestic energy to the East Coast,” NOIA president Erik Milito said in a statement.