Equinor said it is evaluating legal options after the U.S. government issued an order to stop offshore construction work on its Empire Wind project, with the Norwegian energy company calling the directive “unlawful.”
The halt order, which came after the close of the first quarter, affects offshore construction activity on the outer continental shelf. Equinor said it had obtained the project lease in 2017 and received full permitting approval in 2024. The project is currently about 30% complete and has the potential to supply electricity to approximately 500,000 New York households.
“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,” said Anders Opedal, president and CEO of Equinor, in a statement accompanying the company’s Q1 2025 results. “This is a question of the rights and obligations granted under legally issued permits, and security of investments based on valid approvals.”
Equinor added that it is complying with the order while actively seeking discussions with U.S. authorities to clarify the situation. The company is also assessing potential legal avenues in response to the halt.
The Empire Wind project had a gross book value of approximately $2.5 billion as of March 31, 2025, including assets related to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
