Empire Wind, one of the largest offshore wind energy projects in the U.S.— situated south of Long Island, New York—has sued the Department of the Interior (DoI). This action follows the issuance of a federal stop-work order that halts its construction activities. Empire Wind has been front and center in national security reviews since 2017. They’ve worked with all sorts of federal agencies, from the Department of War to the U.S. Coast Guard. These reviews have been fundamental in making sure that the TIFIA project passes national security muster.
Empire Wind’s construction activities include marine trenching, cable laying, and cable pulling activities on the U.S. outer continental shelf. The project overall features a surprising range of workers—believe it or not, almost 4,000 of them. This crew is rendered through a blend of employees and international/domestic subcontractors. As of late September 2025, the construction phase is over 60% complete, marking significant progress despite the recent legal hurdles.
Project Overview and Capacity
Empire Wind also signed a contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). They’ll provide the clean, renewable electricity required to energize New York’s new energy grid. Once in operation, the new project is expected to produce clean electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of almost 500,000 homes. The first phase of construction will see the installation of 54 turbines with a generation capacity of 810 megawatts (MW).
The second phase of the project is all about increasing its impact. We’re hoping to add 84 more turbines, potentially bringing an additional 1.26 gigawatts (GW) of power online. This expansion is important. New York is moving down the path to renewables to reach its aggressive climate targets and serve the needs of its residents with clean energy.
Legal Action and Implications
Empire Wind’s contracted project company, Equinor, is currently responding to the DoI’s recently-released stop-work order. They are now urgently trying to keep construction activities going in the meantime while the court considers their appeal of this federal stop work order. The lawsuit illustrates just how central the Empire Wind project remains to fulfilling both local and national clean energy needs. This further demonstrates the project’s importance, particularly as regulatory environments are increasingly shifting.
This case serves as an example for the much more pervasive challenge renewable energy projects are experiencing in the race to navigate federal regulations and complete projects on time. Consequently, the result of this legal fight might set an important precedent for other like-minded projects around the country.
Future Prospects
As Empire Wind continues its legal fight, the project’s stakeholders remain optimistic about its potential to contribute significantly to New York’s renewable energy landscape. These continued capital projects underscore the agency’s commitment to bring more clean, renewable energy in line with the state and federal goals of expanding sustainable sources.