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Posted On: 1/14/2026, 9:58:29 AM
Last Update: 1/14/2026, 9:58:29 AM
New York has sued the Trump administration following a federal order to halt construction on two critical offshore wind projects, which the state claims are vital for electricity supply, job creation, and fulfilling climate commitments.
Particularly, New York Attorney General Letitia James is challenging stop-work orders issued by the Department of the Interior for the Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
Developed by Ørsted and Equinor, the projects are expected to supply electricity to over one million homes in New York.
The Interior Department has mandated a 90-day suspension of construction for both projects, effective December 22, due to national security concerns linked to classified information.
Moreover, the Pentagon's concern that offshore wind turbines could disrupt radar systems and delay the detection of security threats led to the department's decision.
An Interior Department spokesperson stated that the agency cannot comment on the issue, as the cases are currently in court.
Attorney General James argues that the stop-work orders are unlawful because there is insufficient justification, as the projects were already under construction and had undergone thorough federal, state, and local reviews concerning national security and safety.
Besides, the lawsuits allege that the federal government failed to justify a sudden inadequacy in safeguards. James argues that halting construction may negatively impact workers, families, and New York's clean energy objectives, prompting her office to seek court intervention against these enforcement orders.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul supports legal actions to uphold construction projects that are crucial for the state's energy supply, warning that delays could result in job losses and threaten economic growth, particularly in New York City.
Notably, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind are offshore wind projects being developed off the coast of Long Island. Sunrise Wind will supply electricity to approximately 600,000 homes, while Empire Wind, which will power over 500,000 homes, will be the first to deliver power directly to New York City.
According to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, two energy projects could generate over 1,700 megawatts, fulfilling about 10 percent of New York City and Long Island's power needs. State energy officials warn that delaying these projects may impact grid reliability, energy costs, and clean energy goals.
Before construction, both projects underwent over ten years of reviews by various authorities, covering environmental impact studies, public consultations, and coordination with federal agencies like the Department of Defense.
Maritime Engineering Courses address offshore wind's essential components, which include project technology, development, engineering, environmental impacts, operation and maintenance, and stakeholder coordination. The programme incorporates technological, economic, legal, and ecological viewpoints to provide a holistic knowledge.
Regulators believe that risks can be mitigated, but lawsuits argue that halting construction may lead to significant economic harm, impacting thousands of union jobs, billions in investments, and infrastructure projects in Long Island and New York City.
The state contends that delays could prolong the operation of older fossil fuel power plants, leading to higher pollution and energy costs for consumers, thereby endangering New York's clean energy goals of 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and a zero-emissions power grid by 2040.
Further, Equinor and Ørsted are suing the Interior Department regarding the halt of their offshore wind projects. Specifically, Equinor claims the Empire Wind project may be canceled if construction does not resume by January 16 and is requesting a preliminary injunction from a federal judge in Washington, with a hearing scheduled for next week.
In brief, Ørsted has legally contested federal actions impacting its Sunrise Wind and Revolution Wind projects off Rhode Island, successfully obtaining a court order in September to block a stop-work directive related to Revolution Wind.
