Equinor is considering its legal options after the Trump Administration ordered its major offshore wind project off New York halted, the Norwegian energy major’s chief executive, Anders Opedal, said on Wednesday.
“We have invested in Empire Wind after obtaining all necessary approvals, and the order to halt work now is unprecedented and in our view unlawful,” Opedal said in the company’s press release on the Q1 earnings.
“This is a question of the rights and obligations granted under legally issued permits, and security of investments based on valid approvals,” Equinor’s top executive said, adding that “We seek to engage directly with the US Administration to clarify the matter and are considering our legal options.”
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of the Interior ordered the suspension of construction works at Equinor’s Empire Wind offshore project in New York, saying the project may have been approved by the previous administration without an appropriate environmental assessment.
Equinor obtained the lease in 2017, and the project was fully permitted in 2024.
In early 2025, Equinor secured a project financing package of over $3 billion for Empire Wind 1, which was planned to power 500,000 New York homes and was expected to reach its commercial operation date in 2027. With a contracted capacity of 810 megawatts (MW), Empire Wind 1 was set to be the first offshore wind project to connect to the New York City grid.
Equinor expected the total capital investments in the project, including fees for the use of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), would be around $5 billion, including the effect of expected future tax credits (ITCs).
However, following the Trump Administration’s order, Equinor immediately suspended offshore construction activities at the project, which is approximately 30% complete.
“Equinor is complying with the order and is seeking dialogue with the proper authorities and assessing legal options,” the company said today.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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