The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered a halt to construction on Equinor’s Empire Wind offshore project, citing concerns over insufficient environmental analysis during the approval process. The decision was announced on 16 April by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum through the social media platform X.
Empire Wind, located roughly 12 nautical miles (22km) south of Long Island, New York, is one of the most ambitious offshore wind projects in the region. Developed by Norwegian energy company Equinor, the project was approved by the Biden administration in November 2023 and had already begun early construction phases. Once completed, it is expected to generate enough electricity to power 700,000 homes annually, with operations initially scheduled to begin in 2027.
Equinor confirmed receiving the stop-work order from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a branch of the Department of the Interior responsible for regulating offshore energy projects. As of now, the future of Equinor’s Empire Wind project remains uncertain while the company awaits further clarification from federal authorities.
“We will engage directly with BOEM and the Department of the Interior to understand the questions raised about the permits we have received from authorities, we will not comment about the potential consequences until we know more,” the company said in a statement.
Secretary Burgum noted that the halt followed discussions with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The Department of Commerce oversees the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which evaluates environmental and ecological impacts of offshore projects, particularly those affecting marine life.
Governor Kathy Hochul said, “This fully federally permitted project has already put shovels in the ground before the President’s executive orders, it’s exactly the type of bipartisan energy solution we should be working on.”
The construction halt follows a broader policy shift under President Donald Trump, who, upon returning to office in January, issued an executive order directing a comprehensive review of all offshore wind permitting and leasing activities. The decision faced problems from state officials, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who pointed out the project’s previous approval and bipartisan support.
U.S. halts construction of Equinor’s Empire Wind Offshore Project over environmental review concerns Middle East Construction News.
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