The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has officially lifted the stop-work order issued on April 16 for Equinor’s Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project. On May 19, Equinor announced it will resume construction on the landmark project, which is set to become the first offshore wind farm connected to New York City’s power grid.

The decision to lift the order came after extensive discussions involving federal, state, and local regulators alongside key stakeholders. Equinor CEO Anders Opedal expressed gratitude to U.S. President Trump for “finding a solution that saves thousands of American jobs,” while also acknowledging New York Governor Kathy Hochul for “her constructive collaboration with the Trump Administration” that helped move the project forward.

Governor Hochul stated, “I knew this critical project needed to move forward and have spent weeks pushing the federal government to rescind the stop work order to allow the workers to return and ensure this important source of renewable power could come to fruition.”

She added, “After countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials, bringing labor and business to the table to emphasize the importance of this project, I’m pleased that President Trump and Secretary Burgum have agreed to lift the stop work order and allow this project to move forward. Now, Equinor will resume the construction of this fully-permitted project that had already received the necessary federal approvals.”

In addition to thanking President Trump and Governor Hochul, Opedal also acknowledged New York City Mayor Eric Adams, congressional leaders, labor unions, and other advocates for their continued support. He recognized Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of Finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum for their diplomatic efforts in engaging the U.S. administration.

The stop-work order had raised concerns that the project might miss the current offshore construction window, potentially jeopardizing the Empire Wind 1’s planned commercial operation date in 2027. At one point, Equinor considered canceling the project altogether if the restrictions persisted.

Now, with the order lifted, the company intends to proceed swiftly with the offshore installation activities during this year’s construction window. Equinor also plans to work closely with suppliers and regulatory bodies to mitigate any residual impact from the work stoppage.

The company stated it will conduct an updated economic assessment of the project in the second quarter to evaluate any cost or timeline adjustments resulting from the delay.

Empire Wind 1 is a cornerstone initiative in New York’s renewable energy goals, aiming to provide clean, sustainable power to millions of residents while creating thousands of jobs. Its successful completion will mark a major milestone for offshore wind development in the United States.

Originally reported by Adrijana Bulijan in Offshore Wind.