The Trump administration has made a bold move by halting the $5 billion Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project, which was already under construction off the coast of New York. The Norwegian developer, Equinor, received a notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) instructing them to stop all activities on the outer continental shelf until a review is completed.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum took to Twitter to announce the decision, citing concerns about the approval process under the Biden administration. Despite Trump’s recent declaration of a national energy emergency to expedite permitting processes, the project, which was fully permitted and approved in 2023, has now been put on hold.
Empire Wind 1, a massive 810-megawatt project, was set to power 500,000 homes in New York and was being developed in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The project had already secured $3 billion in financing and was expected to be completed by 2027.
The decision to halt construction has been met with criticism from industry leaders, with American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet calling it a setback for the energy sector. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York expressed her disappointment with the federal government’s interference, stating that the project had already created hundreds of jobs and spurred economic development in the state.
Equinor is now considering appealing BOEM’s order, as they remain committed to completing the project. The Empire Wind 1 project includes the development of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which was set to become the largest dedicated port facility for offshore wind in the US.
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