A federal judge has ruled to allow construction to resume on a New York offshore wind project that had been paused by a Trump administration order. District Judge Carl J. Nichols issued the decision, clearing the way for the Empire Wind project, owned by Norwegian company Equinor, to continue building its wind farm, according to CBS News.
The Trump administration halted five offshore wind projects off the East Coast just days before Christmas, citing national security concerns. The order, issued amid the administration’s broader push against offshore wind, led developers and states to file lawsuits challenging the pause. The federal government stated that the stoppage was based on safety and national security reasons, though specific details were not provided.
In the court ruling, Judge Nichols criticized the government for not adequately addressing key points raised by Empire Wind in its legal filings, including claims that the administration had violated proper procedure in issuing the stop-work order. As per Gothamist, Equinor is moving forward with the Empire 1 offshore wind project in New York, which had been paused during the suspension period.
During a hearing, Judge Nichols noted that the government’s main security concern appeared to focus more on the operation of the wind turbines than their construction. The government contested this interpretation, with Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, Jr. questioning Equinor’s warnings about potential risks if construction continued. Woodward stated, “I don't see how you can make this distinction,” comparing it to opposing the construction of a nuclear project over national security concerns, as reported by CBS News.
“Empire Wind will now focus on safely restarting construction activities that were halted during the suspension period,” said Equinor spokesperson Carolyn Spector in a statement obtained by Gothamist. Spector added that the project will continue working with the U.S. government to ensure progress remains secure, safe, and responsible. Equinor’s senior vice president, Molly Morris, also emphasized the company’s commitment to completing the project in an interview with CBS News, noting the goal of providing a significant new power source for New York.
Following Empire Wind, a judge this week granted Danish energy company Orsted a preliminary injunction for its Revolution Wind project off the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Orsted is also pursuing legal action against the stop-work order on its Sunrise Wind project in New York, though a hearing date has not yet been set.
