Feds Shut Down Construction Of Empire Wind Project Off Long Island

President Donald Trump's administration on Wednesday halted the construction of Empire Wind, a 54-turbine offshore wind farm south of Long Island.

The order, which was delivered by Trump's Interior Department Secretary Doug Burgum, was the administration's first significant action against an offshore wind developer since his Jan. 20 executive order that halted any new federal leases for the nascent industry.

Bergum ordered Empire Wind to cease all construction "until further review of information that suggests the Biden administration rushed through its approval without sufficient analysis."

Burgum's action appears to follow a directive in President Trump's executive order to "conduct a comprehensive review of the ecological, economic, and environmental necessity of terminating or amending any existing wind energy leases..."

Empire Wind, a project run by the Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor, had been fully permitted under former President Joe Biden's administration and was set to begin construction next month.

"Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order," the offshore wind developer announced in a statement released on Thursday. "Empire is complying with the order affecting project activities for Empire Wind. Upon receipt of the order, immediate steps were taken by Empire and its contractors to initiate suspension of relevant marine activities, ensuring the safety of workers and the environment."

The federal lease for Empire Wind was granted during President Trump's first term in 2017. It had since secured all the necessary federal and state permits to begin construction. Equinor stated Thursday that it had already "put more than 1,500 people to work in the US." The $2.5 billion offshore wind project would have generated enough energy to power 500,000 homes in New York, according to the developer. 

“Stopping work on the fully federally permitted Empire Wind 1 offshore project should send chills across all industries investing in and holding contracts with the United States Government," said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the Oceantic Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and growing the offshore wind energy industry. "Preventing a permitted and financed energy project from moving forward sends a loud and clear message to all businesses - beyond those in the offshore wind industry - that their investment in the U.S. is not safe. We urge the Department of Interior to lift this order immediately to restore a predictable and equitable environment for the buildout of critical energy resources that help secure our energy future and independence."