On January 14, a U.S. judge will decide if Norwegian offshore wind developer Equinor can continue building the Empire Wind project off New York's coast. This comes after the company filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for halting construction in federal waters.

The hearing will take place in the U.S. District Court in Washington, just two days after the same court allowed Danish offshore wind developer Orsted to resume its nearly finished Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island. Other wind projects are also facing similar delays.

Equinor has invested $4 billion in the Empire Wind project and stated in court documents that it could face project termination if it cannot move forward by January 16.

Located 20 miles off Long Island, Empire Wind is approximately 60% complete and is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 500,000 homes.

Equinor is asking U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols for an injunction, as part of ongoing legal battles against former President Donald Trump's administration, which has been criticized for its approach to the offshore wind industry.

The outcomes of these court cases are crucial for companies and their investors, as they could lead to the completion of major projects, but the ongoing lawsuits will keep uncertainty alive.

Last month, Trump's Interior Department suspended activity on five offshore wind leases, citing newly classified information regarding national security risks from radar interference, based on a Defense Department report presented to the Interior Department in November.

Offshore wind developers like Equinor have encountered many challenges during Trump's presidency, as he has expressed negative views about wind turbines, calling them unattractive, costly, and ineffective. The Empire Wind project faced a month-long suspension last year due to the administration’s actions.