New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction on the Empire Wind offshore project, a cornerstone of New York State’s renewable energy plan, came to a halt on Dec. 22 following a federal stop-work order.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued the notice to Empire Offshore Wind LLC, citing national security concerns. The project, being developed by Equinor, is more than 60% complete and was expected to eventually power roughly 500,000 New York homes.
In a statement, Equinor confirmed it is complying with the order while engaging with federal authorities to understand the specific nature of the security review. The suspension impacts approximately 1,000 workers currently active in the lease area and at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which is being revitalized to serve as a primary assembly hub.
The halt is the latest in a series of federal funding and permitting freezes affecting New York infrastructure. Earlier this autumn, the federal government placed an $18 billion hold on funding for the Gateway Tunnel and the Second Avenue Subway extension, citing a desire to review projects for “unconstitutional practices” during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
