The Department of the Interior has halted construction on Empire Wind 1, a major offshore wind project slated for New York’s coast. Officials cited “serious issues” with previous approvals in their April 16 stop-work order. The decision threatens over 1,000 jobs and raises questions about the environmental review process. With New York’s renewable energy targets now in jeopardy, stakeholders from both industry and government must wait to learn whether this suspension marks a temporary delay or a permanent setback.
The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued a stop-work order for the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project on April 16, 2025. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the decision, which halts all construction activities while officials conduct a thorough review of the project’s permits.
The federal freeze affects the 816-megawatt wind farm planned for waters 15 to 30 miles south of Long Island. Construction had already begun in 2024 after receiving federal approvals but must now stop completely during the review period.
Federal regulators pointed to “serious issues” with the project approvals after examining wind leasing and permitting practices. The main concerns involve whether environmental assessments that led to the original permits were adequate. Officials haven’t set a timeline for completing their review.
Federal review reveals permit concerns for Empire Wind 1, focusing on adequacy of environmental assessments. Timeline for resolution remains uncertain.
Equinor, the company developing Empire Wind 1, has promised to work with federal agencies to address these concerns. The project aimed to deliver its first power by late 2026 and reach full operation by 2027, but these dates are now uncertain.
The suspension threatens to disrupt New York’s clean energy goals. Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the decision as “federal overreach” and warned about impacts on local jobs and the state’s renewable energy targets.
Industry groups like the American Clean Power Association worry that the halt might discourage investment in U.S. offshore wind projects. Many industry analysts suggest the review was triggered by the changing political landscape that has increasingly complicated renewable energy development. This setback comes despite wind energy’s 70% cost reduction over the past decade, making it increasingly competitive with conventional power sources. Community and labor representatives have highlighted risks to over 1,000 construction jobs at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the wind farm itself.
The project included 54 wind turbines with 15 MW capacity each that would have been supplied by Vestas, a leading manufacturer of wind technology. Before the freeze, Empire Wind 1 planned to generate enough electricity to power up to 1 million New York homes. The project began with a lease awarded in a 2016 federal auction and included investments to redevelop the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal as an offshore wind hub.
While federal officials complete their review, the future of Empire Wind 1 remains unclear, along with its role in New York’s renewable energy plans.
