Ocean County Leader

Just as the construction of a significant wind farm off Long Island's coast began, the Trump administration ordered an immediate stop on Wednesday. This decision could potentially hinder efforts to supply New York City with offshore wind energy.

Doug Burgum, the Interior Secretary, instructed a halt to “all construction activities” on the Empire Wind project, which aimed to generate enough electricity for approximately 500,000 homes in New York.

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order limiting offshore wind farm approvals. However, Empire Wind already had all necessary permits to start construction.

In a social media post, Mr. Burgum explained that the halt was to allow “further review of information that suggests the Biden administration rushed through its approval without sufficient analysis.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, quickly opposed the decision, pledging to "fight this decision every step of the way." She termed the move a “federal overreach” that she would not tolerate.

The order followed a letter from Representative Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, urging Mr. Burgum to “do everything in your power” to stop what he called an “underhanded rush” to build the wind farm. Another New Jersey Republican, Jeff Van Drew, had also pressed Mr. Trump to halt plans for other Atlantic Ocean wind farms meant to supply renewable power to New Jersey.

President Trump’s known stance against windmills as renewable energy sources poses a significant challenge to the struggling offshore wind industry. The industry has been grappling with global inflation and supply chain disruptions. Some East Coast project proposals have been canceled or have lost financial support.

Critics argue that offshore wind farms are unsightly and harm marine life and commercial fishing. The offshore wind industry and supporters refute these claims, committing to ensure projects do not endanger whales and other marine life.

Governor Hochul of New York and Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, also a Democrat, are strong proponents of offshore wind development as a solution to burgeoning electricity demands in their states. Their plans are crucial to the Biden administration’s goal to produce 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.

The Empire Wind project was set to produce 810 megawatts, with a sibling project, Empire Wind 2, designed to generate 1,200 megawatts, equivalent to 1.2 gigawatts.

Equinor, a Norwegian company, leads the Empire Wind project. The company purchased the site lease from the federal government in 2017 and secured the winning bid in New York State’s first large-scale competition for a contract to supply offshore wind-generated electricity.

In December, Equinor announced securing $3 billion financing for Empire Wind 1. Construction began in 2024, with an expected completion in 2027.

In South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, Equinor is establishing a port for the offshore wind project, creating 1,500 jobs. David Schoetz, Equinor’s spokesperson, stated that the company received a notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which oversees offshore wind projects, to stop work.

“We will engage directly with B.O.E.M. and the Department of Interior to understand the questions raised about the permits we have received from authorities,” the statement said. “We will not comment about the potential consequences until we know more.”

Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, a renewable energy trade group, said, “Doubling back to reconsider permits after projects are under construction sends a chilling signal to all energy investment.”

Representative Smith, in his letter to Mr. Burgum, claimed that Equinor's offshore project endangers American lives and the environment. He urged stopping the project until a "critical assessment" is completed.

Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County's executive, stated that Long Island residents were “extremely grateful” to President Trump, Mr. Burgum, and Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator, for halting further offshore wind turbine work, which raised concerns among firefighters, health officials, and residents.

Patrick McGeehan, a Times reporter, covers New York City's economy, airports, and other transportation hubs.

This article originally appeared online on April 16, 2025, and is available at: Trump Administration Halts Building of Giant Wind Farm Off N.Y. Coast - The New York Times [Link](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/nyregion/empire-wind-farm-trump-ny.html?searchResultPosition=1)