The Trump administration recently halted a significant US offshore wind project located off the coast of New York. This decision, announced by US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on the platform X, affects the Empire Wind Project, which is paused for additional review over concerns that the Biden administration may have hastily approved it without adequate analysis.
Donald Trump has consistently criticized offshore wind initiatives, inaccurately blaming them for whale deaths and emphasizing a preference for oil and gas exploration. On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order halting new offshore wind project leases and permits, though Empire Wind had secured a federal lease since 2017 with all necessary state and federal approvals in place. The project’s developer, Equinor, has temporarily suspended construction per the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s directive and is considering legal avenues, including appealing the order.
The Empire Wind construction, valued at approximately $2.5 billion and initiated by Equinor this month, was expected to finish by 2027, delivering renewable energy to 500,000 New York homes. The project is significant for local employment, having engaged 1,500 workers and planning to establish a South Brooklyn Marine Terminal hub with potential for 1,000 union construction jobs.
Liz Burdock, CEO of the Oceantic Network, expressed that halting a fully permitted project like Empire Wind sends a discouraging signal to industries investing in the US. The country’s offshore wind sector lags behind other nations, although it possesses considerable potential given its extensive coastlines. Despite challenges, including supply chain issues and project costs, as well as resistance from commercial fishing interests and residents concerned about their ocean views, there is optimism for offshore wind to significantly contribute to national energy needs by 2050.
Opposition to the industrialization of the ocean was voiced by Bonnie Brady of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul pledged to contest the federal blockade of Empire Wind. Meanwhile, Sierra Club representative Xavier Boatright criticized Trump’s support for fossil fuel interests over renewable energy development, with the fossil fuel sector having significantly contributed to Trump’s election campaign.
In summary, the dispute over the Empire Wind Project highlights tensions surrounding offshore wind energy development in the US, balancing job creation, environmental goals, and energy independence against political and industry opposition.
