Saturday, June 14, 2025
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management informed Equinor on May 19 that the stop work order issued last month has been lifted for its Empire Wind 1 project, allowing construction to resume.
“We appreciate the fact that construction can now resume on Empire Wind, a project which underscores our commitment to deliver energy while supporting local economies and creating jobs,” Anders Opedal, president and CEO of Equinor ASA, said.
The initial stop work order was issued on April 16. Shortly before the order last month, elected officials and community members gathered in Long Beach to voice their opposition to new battery storage facilities and wind turbines, further adding to the seemingly constant retorts to the projects.
“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. “I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her constructive collaboration with the Trump Administration, without which we would not have been able to advance this project and secure energy for 500,000 homes in New York. We are very appreciative of New York City Mayor Adams, congressional leaders, including Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Representative Garbarino, and Representative Goldman, as well as labour groups and other advocates that have maintained their steadfast support for the project.”
Equinor originally planned two projects, Empire Wind 1 and 2, in which it would have constructed a total of 147 wind turbines, each 886 feet tall, as well as the stations housing the cables that transfer energy from the turbines to land, all 15 to 35 miles offshore. Empire Wind 1 was slated to supply power to the Brooklyn area, and Empire Wind 2 would deliver power to the grid in Nassau County and connect to the E.F. Barrett Power Station in Island Park.
Equinor and BP announced that the agreement with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on Empire Wind 2 had been scrapped in January 2024, but Empire Wind 1 received final approval by the state’s Public Service Commission last May.
“This project delivers on the energy ambitions shared by the United States and New York by providing a vital new source of power to the region,” Molly Morris, president of Equinor Wind U.S., said. “Empire Wind brings supply chain investments in states across the nation including New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and South Carolina.”
Equinor said it will perform an updated assessment of the project economics in the second quarter. Empire said it aims to be able to execute planned activities in the offshore installation window in 2025 and reach its planned commercial operation date in 2027 and will engage with suppliers and regulatory bodies to reduce the impact of the stop work order.
Assemblyman Ari Brown was one of the many elected officials and residents to speak out against the project, joining the crowds at many rallies throughout the entire timeline of the project thus far.
“News that the federal stop-work order on Equinor’s offshore wind project has been lifted raises serious concerns for our communities,” Brown said in a statement. “We are seeking further clarity on the rationale behind this decision and how it aligns with the long-term interests of the people of Long Island.”
