Construction on the Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project is set to resume after the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) lifted a stop-work order that had been in place since 16 April. Equinor, the lead developer through its subsidiary Empire Offshore Wind LLC, confirmed on 19 May that activities will restart on the project — one of the first to connect directly to New York City’s power grid.

Located 15 to 30 miles off the coast of Long Island, Empire Wind 1 is designed to deliver renewable electricity to approximately 500,000 homes in New York. The project, now more than 30% complete, is expected to enter commercial operation in 2027.

“We appreciate the fact that construction can now resume on Empire Wind,” said Equinor President and CEO Anders Opedal. He credited federal and state officials for helping move the project forward, including President Trump, Governor Kathy Hochul, and key members of Congress. He also thanked Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg for raising the matter with US authorities.

The BOEM-issued stop order temporarily halted offshore activity pending regulatory review. In the weeks that followed, Equinor worked with relevant agencies to address concerns and secure approval to proceed.

Molly Morris, President of Equinor Wind US, highlighted the project’s broader impact: “Empire Wind supports the clean energy goals of both New York and the United States. It also drives investment in domestic supply chains in states including New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and South Carolina.”

The American Clean Power Association welcomed the decision. CEO Jason Grumet stated: “We commend the Trump Administration for allowing construction on Empire Wind 1 to proceed, putting more than 1,500 workers back to work. This is a critical step toward ensuring reliable, affordable, and clean electricity.”

Equinor plans to reassess the project’s economics in Q2 2025 and aims to proceed with key offshore installation activities during the upcoming construction window.