The Trump administration has reversed its halt on construction of the Empire Wind project off the coast of New York, giving Norwegian energy giant Equinor the green light to resume work on the $5 billion offshore wind farm. The move ends a costly month-long suspension that had raised industry-wide concerns over the regulatory stability of U.S. clean energy investments.

The Empire Wind development, which is expected to generate enough power for 500,000 New York homes, is one of the largest offshore wind projects currently in the U.S. pipeline. Construction was paused in April when Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a stop-work order, citing insufficient environmental review conducted under the Biden administration’s permitting process.

Equinor had been spending roughly $50 million a week during the pause to keep the project viable. With the halt lifted, the company said it will now work with suppliers and regulators to mitigate the financial and logistical impacts caused by the delay.

“I would like to thank President Trump for finding a solution that saves thousands of American jobs and provides for continued investments in energy infrastructure in the U.S.,” said Equinor CEO Anders Opedal in a statement. He also credited Norway's leadership for elevating the matter during high-level discussions with U.S. officials. “Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg met with the president in Washington last month,” Opedal added.

Opedal acknowledged New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s key role in advocating for the project’s continuation. The Interior Department, which had initially issued the stop-work directive, has not yet commented on the decision to reverse course.

Equinor plans to update the project's financial outlook in the second quarter, with installation at sea now set to begin in 2025 and commercial operations targeted for 2027. The Empire Wind lease was originally secured in 2017 during Trump's first term, and the project received full approval under President Joe Biden in 2023. Turbines for the project will be supplied by Danish manufacturer Vestas.

At present, Empire Wind is approximately 30% complete, the company confirmed.

The original construction pause stemmed from concerns flagged by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which partners with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to assess the environmental impacts of offshore wind projects. NOAA’s internal report expressed worry about the potential effects on marine wildlife and fisheries — concerns echoed by Secretary Burgum when he ordered construction halted last month.

Although Trump has long championed a policy of “energy dominance,” his administration has excluded wind from those efforts. On his first day back in office, he signed an executive order freezing new offshore wind leases and permits, labeling wind energy “ugly, expensive and harmful to wildlife.”

Despite that stance, industry advocates welcomed the news that Empire Wind could move forward.

“The administration is clearing the way for major investments to move forward — activating American shipyards, creating high-quality jobs, and accelerating the buildout of infrastructure needed to deliver reliable, domestic energy to the East Coast,” said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association.

Currently, the United States has four operating offshore wind farms. In addition to Empire Wind, three more projects are under construction: Sunrise Wind and Revolution Wind, both led by Denmark’s Ørsted, and Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.

Equinor said it remains committed to delivering a landmark project that will shape the future of renewable energy in the U.S., despite the recent setbacks.

Originally reported by Nichola Groom in Reuters.