The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a preliminary injunction that allows Empire Offshore Wind LLC to resume construction on the Empire Wind offshore wind project. This decision ends a suspension that had put the $5.3 billion project at risk.
This ruling is a significant win for Equinor, the company behind the project. Equinor had warned the court that if delays continued past January 16, the project might be cancelled due to disruptions in its tightly planned construction schedule, which could threaten its financing. Currently, over 60% of the project is complete, reflecting more than $4 billion in investments, with $2.7 billion already drawn from project financing.
Empire Wind is now focused on safely restarting construction activities that were paused during the suspension. The company continues to communicate with the U.S. government to ensure the project is executed safely and responsibly.
This injunction coincides with an ongoing lawsuit challenging the Department of the Interior's suspension order issued on December 22, 2025.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's December 22 order halted five offshore wind projects under construction on the East Coast, including Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Empire Wind 1. These projects represent more than $10 billion in total investment and have the capacity to power over two million homes.
Burgum stated, "The primary duty of the U.S. government is to protect its people." He explained that the action addresses emerging national security risks from adversary technologies and the vulnerabilities created by large offshore wind projects located near densely populated areas on the East Coast.
The administration argued that large turbine blades and reflective towers could disrupt radar systems, causing false readings and hiding legitimate targets.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who filed separate lawsuits on January 9, described the suspensions as arbitrary and unlawful. She pointed out that these projects had undergone more than a decade of thorough federal, state, and local reviews, including coordination with the Department of Defense.
“New Yorkers deserve access to clean energy, good jobs, and a government that upholds the law,” James said. “These projects were already under construction when the federal government abruptly suspended them without explanation. This reckless decision puts our workers, families, and climate goals at risk, and my office is taking steps to reverse it.”
Equinor has warned that if the project is cancelled, it could incur losses of $4 billion already invested, $850 million in termination fees for 11 construction contracts, and $355 million in costs to dismantle and secure project assets.
Two specialized construction vessels are central to the case. If the project schedule is delayed, these vessels will be tied up for years due to long-term commitments. The company noted that the situation worsened on January 5 when the government prohibited essential safety work, turning a serious issue for Empire Wind into a nearly critical one, making immediate relief necessary.
This December order marked the second significant halt for Empire Wind in less than a year. Earlier in 2025, the Trump administration implemented a widespread freeze on offshore wind activities, leading Equinor to report a $763 million impairment in its second-quarter results before construction could resume.
Equinor stated that Empire Wind has worked closely with federal officials on national security reviews since securing its lease in 2017, including consultations with the Department of War, and remains in compliance with all identified national security requirements during the permitting process.
Developed in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Empire Wind aims to provide a new energy source for New York City, which is facing increasing demand and limited grid capacity.
Once completed, the project is expected to supply electricity to approximately 500,000 homes and will be the first offshore wind project to deliver power directly to the city. Construction has already employed nearly 4,000 workers and has driven the transformation of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into what is planned to be the country's largest dedicated offshore wind port facility.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the suspension order, stating, “The Trump administration’s irrational effort to halt these fully permitted projects lacks legal basis, undermines U.S. energy independence, and threatens thousands of jobs and the power needed to keep our lights on and drive economic development. These unlawful actions must not be allowed to continue.”
Empire Wind is not the only project challenging the government's actions. Recently, a U.S. court ruled that Ørsted could proceed with its Revolution Wind project alongside Skyborn Renewables, which is about 80% complete, with all foundations installed and 45 of 65 turbines already in place after approximately $5 billion in spending or commitments.
Industry leaders have warned that the suspensions create unnecessary uncertainty for any company looking to build an energy project in the U.S. According to Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, “All projects that were suspended had undergone thorough national security reviews during both the Trump and Biden administrations.”
The ongoing legal battles will determine whether these projects can move forward or if national security concerns will permanently impact the future of offshore wind energy in the United States.