The Trump administration has reversed its decision to halt construction on the Empire Wind project off the coast of New York. The offshore wind farm, developed by Norway’s state-owned energy company Equinor, is now cleared to resume work.
The change comes after political pressure from the Norwegian government and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, according to Reuters. Equinor CEO Anders Opedal thanked U.S. leadership for resolving the issue.
“I would like to thank President Trump for finding a solution that saves thousands of American jobs and provides for continued investments in energy infrastructure in the U.S.,” Opedal said.
Last month, the U.S. Department of the Interior ordered a stop to construction, citing concerns that the project may have been approved by the previous administration without a proper environmental review. The decision caused significant delays and financial strain.
The $5 billion Empire Wind project had already secured $3 billion in financing by January. With a planned capacity of 810 megawatts, it aims to supply power to 500,000 New York homes. Empire Wind 1 is set to become the first offshore wind project to connect directly to New York City’s power grid, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2027.
The stop-work order, issued by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in April, was costing Equinor about $50 million per week. A senior company executive warned that the project could be scrapped within days if the order was not lifted. Missing the summer construction window could have delayed the project by up to a year.
Since receiving approval from the Biden administration in 2023, Empire Wind has completed about 30% of its construction. With the suspension now lifted, work is expected to resume immediately to keep the project on track.
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