A federal judge has permitted Equinor to resume work on the Empire Wind offshore project off New York, overturning a pause ordered by the Trump administration. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols concluded the government had not provided an adequate public justification for the suspension. Government attorneys had cited newly disclosed classified information about national-security concerns. The ruling is viewed as a legal setback for the administration and may affect other paused offshore wind projects.
Judge Allows Equinor To Restart New York’s Empire Wind, Reversing Federal Pause
Equinor logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken, May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
A federal judge on Thursday cleared Norwegian developer Equinor to resume work on the Empire Wind offshore project off New York, overturning a federal pause that applied to five planned U.S. offshore wind projects.
The decision by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols found that the government's suspension—imposed last month by the Trump administration—was not adequately justified on the public record. Government attorneys had argued the pause was warranted by newly disclosed, classified information about potential national-security risks related to offshore wind development.
Why the Ruling Matters
Legal observers say the ruling is an important setback for the administration's effort to slow offshore wind expansion because it underscores limits on agencies' ability to pause projects without publicly explainable evidence. For Equinor and local stakeholders, the decision clears the way to resume construction and preserves momentum for regional clean-energy investment and jobs.
Next Steps
Equinor may restart work while litigation proceeds; the government could seek to appeal or provide additional classified justification under review. The outcome could influence other lawsuits tied to the administration's pause of offshore wind projects.
Reporting: Blake Brittain in Washington and Nichola Groom in Los Angeles.
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