The energy firm behind a wind farm partially built off Long Island’s coast has issued a warning that the project could be abandoned “within days” if the Trump administration maintains its current stance.
Equinor, a company based in Norway, claims it has been losing about $50 million each week since the construction was halted by the Trump administration on a project aimed at supplying power to 500,000 households in New York City.
“Without a resolution with the federal government, we have no choice but to terminate the program very soon,” stated Molly Morris, the president of America’s renewable energy. “Honestly, this situation can’t go on.”
The failure of the Empire Wind Project, which aligns with New York’s green energy goals, would have significant ramifications, including the loss of thousands of construction jobs.
The project had the backing of key figures like Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, and it had received all necessary approvals from the previous Biden administration last year.
Morris has labeled the suspension “illegal” and has suggested that Equinor is considering a lawsuit to overturn the freeze, as 11 ships are currently waiting for work.
Currently, Empire Wind is over 30% finished, and construction at the South Brooklyn Marine Corps Terminal—a substation meant to connect the wind farm to the grid—has surpassed 50% completion, according to the company.
Morris added that more than $2.5 billion has already been invested in the endeavor.
This construction has generated 1,500 jobs, contributing to a total of about 4,000 jobs across New York, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas.
The wind farm, located 15 miles off the coast, faces opposition from Trump’s Republican allies, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, local communities, fishermen, and other supporters of the president.
Last month, Trump’s Secretary of the Interior intervened to halt the project, arguing that its approval had been hastily granted by the previous Biden administration.
Burgham, a representative from the Interior Department, stated that new information had emerged that raised serious concerns regarding the project’s approval process. He mentioned that the halt would remain until these issues could be thoroughly reviewed.
However, Equinor contends that it signed the initial lease under the Trump administration back in 2017 and had been consistently vetted for years, ultimately obtaining all necessary approvals for construction just last year.
During a meeting with Trump at the White House last Friday, Mayor Adams mentioned his endorsement of the project, stating, “It’s a fantastic initiative.” In his view, securing the project’s future is crucial.
That said, persuading the president could be challenging, as he has been openly critical of wind power, citing concerns about its reliability, cost, and impact on wildlife.
Since his re-inauguration in January, Trump has issued an executive order aimed at blocking or pausing new offshore wind projects.
While this order did not specifically revoke projects that had already received federal leases and permits—like Equinor’s—it certainly raises questions about the future of such initiatives.
