SOURCE:
By Jerry Barmash, Patch Staff - May 20, 2025
"This is a huge milestone in the fight for clean energy," Citizens Campaign for the Environment's Adrienne Esposito said.
LONG BEACH, NY — The Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project will go forward off the southern coast of Long Beach and Jones Beach.
“I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Burgum for lifting the stop-work order on Empire Wind 1 which will allow this transformative clean energy project to move forward as planned," said Doreen Harris, President and CEO of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The project would contain up to 147 wind turbines, two offshore substations and transmissions lines which are proposed to come ashore on Long Beach and traverse underground until interconnecting to Long Island’s power grid at a power station in Oceanside.
It is estimated that, once completed, the project would power up to 1 million New York homes, the City of Long Beach said on its website.
Harris said restoring Empire Wind secures more than 1,500 construction jobs.
Earlier this month, a Trump executive order halted all wind energy production, but Gov. Hochul said the state was "not backing down without a fight. We must not allow this federal overreach to stand.”
However, Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Equinor ASA, was been informed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) that the stop work order has been lifted, allowing construction activities to resume.
"We appreciate the fact that construction can now resume on Empire Wind, a project which underscores our commitment to deliver energy while supporting local economies and creating jobs," said Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor ASA. "I would like to thank President Trump for finding a solution that saves thousands of American jobs and provides for continued investments in energy infrastructure in the U.S. I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her constructive collaboration with the Trump Administration, without which we would not have been able to advance this project and secure energy for 500 000 homes in New York.”
Farmingdale-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment praised the White House reversal to bring green jobs, green jobs and cleaner air to Long Island.
"This is cause for celebration and signifies that when all parties come together to discuss important issues that common ground can be reached," Executive Director Adrienne Esposito said. "This is a huge milestone in the fight for clean energy, clean air and a diversified energy plan."
