In a social media announcement, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the department has requested Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) “immediately halt all construction activities” on the project, to conduct a “review of information showing that the Biden administration approved it too quickly without adequate analysis.”
This suspension order is part of a series of actions by the Trump administration to reverse climate policies pushed forward under the Biden administration, including withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement – one of Mr. Trump’s first executive orders after taking office.
📍 Information about Empire Wind project
Location: 24–48 km southeast of Long Island (New York)
Contract capacity: 810 MW
Connect to the grid: This will be the first offshore wind project to connect directly to the New York City power grid.
Commercial Operation Time (previously expected): 2027
Investor: Equinor (Norway), granted exploitation rights since 2017
Investment value: Estimated at about 5 billion USD; project funding alone has reached more than 3 billion USD
In a statement after the suspension was announced, Equinor said:
“We are working with the relevant authorities to clarify this matter and are considering legal remedies, including the possibility of appealing the decision.”
Previously in June 6, Equinor and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with an electricity price of 155 USD/MWh. At that time, the Governor Kathy Hochul has described offshore wind as “a key piece of the state’s clean energy roadmap to address the climate crisis.”
New York now has strict goals: 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040.
Response after suspension order, Governor Hochul confirm:
“As Governor, I will not let this federal overreach continue. I will fight tooth and nail to protect union jobs, affordable energy, and New York’s economic future.”