POLITICO Energy Trump’s wind war may claim its first major casualty soon
May 14, 2025
Ben Storrow, a reporter for POLITICO’s E&E News, discusses the imminent threat to the Empire Wind project, driven by political pushback from the Trump administration. He delves into the project's potential cancellation and its ramifications for the U.S. offshore wind sector. Storrow also highlights the broader backlash against clean energy initiatives, detailing Senate Republicans' resistance to proposed rollbacks of clean energy credits, and the industry’s precarious future amidst regulatory uncertainty.
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Equinor Faces Huge Losses
- Equinor faces $50 million weekly losses due to a federal stop work order on their $5 billion Empire Wind project.
- Specialized vessels and equipment sit idle, threatening project cancellation without a quick resolution.
Transparency Lacking on Stop Order
- The Trump administration halted offshore wind projects citing a hidden NOAA report but hasn't made it public.
- Lack of transparency on legal grounds raises questions about the stop work order's justification.
Empire Wind Critical for NYC Grid
- New York relies heavily on offshore wind to meet climate goals and plugged Empire Wind directly into NYC's grid.
- The project's halt deeply impacts the state's energy strategy and ongoing legal challenges may not save it in time.