The Empire Strikes Out

By Katie McFadden

Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 has lost the wind in its sails. On April 16, 2025, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to order the Norway-based company to halt all construction activity for the offshore wind project that was set to be built off the coast of Rockaway and Long Island.

In his letter to BOEM, Burgum wrote, “Approval for the project was rushed through by the prior administration without sufficient analysis or consultation among the relevant agencies as relates to the potential effects from the project.” He added that the halt would be in effect indefinitely until “further review is completed to address these serious deficiencies.”

According to a Fox News report, a review of the project by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, seems to back this claim up, saying “monitoring plans to assess project effects on fisheries and habitat resources were inadequate, and existing compensation mechanisms fell short due to flawed scientific methodologies.” The study went on to say, “Critical areas that support commercial and recreational fisheries were not excluded from leasing, and proposals that emphasized maximum development scenarios further restricted opportunities to reduce impacts on fisheries and important habitats.”

Phase 1 of the offshore wind farm project was set to feature 54 wind turbines about 14 miles off of Jones Beach State Park. Each turbine would be 951 feet tall and have a 15MW capacity. The entire Empire Wind Project, in Phase 1 and 2, will span 80,000 acres with 147 wind turbines, in water depths of between approximately 75 and 135 feet.

Equinor had finalized the federal lease for the site in March 2017. By December 2023, they received approval from New York State and in February 2024, BOEM, under the Biden administration, issued final federal approval. Work had already begun on the project’s Sunset Park Onshore Substation near the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in June 2024. Offshore work was just beginning, with pile driving set to start May 1. This halt work order comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 putting a pause on new federal leases and permits for offshore wind projects. Since Empire Wind 1 received approval and funding under the previous administration, it was exempt from the executive order. In recent weeks, activists from groups such as Save the East Coast, Inc. and Protect Our Coast – Long Island New York, who believe the work surrounding wind farms potentially harms wildlife and fishing areas, had been leading rallies and campaigns to have the project stopped.

In a press release, Equinor said it was following the order. “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.” But they’re not going down without a fight. “Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order,” the release read.

In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul also vowed to fight against the order. “Empire Wind 1 is already employing hundreds of New Yorkers, including 1,000 good-paying union jobs as part of a growing sector that has already spurred significant economic development and private investment throughout the state and beyond,” Hochul said. “As Governor, I will not allow this federal overreach to stand. I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New York’s economic future.”