Empire Offshore Wind LLC has filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, contesting an order from the U.S. Department of the Interior that directed a suspension of construction on the 810-megawatt Empire Wind offshore project.
The developer plans to seek a preliminary injunction that would allow work to continue while the case is heard, according to Equinor, the Norwegian energy group backing the project. Equinor said the suspension order is unlawful and risks disrupting ongoing construction during what it described as a critical execution phase.
“The order threatens the progress of ongoing work with significant implications for the project,” Equinor said, adding that it is continuing discussions with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and other authorities to reach a swift resolution.
Empire said the request for an injunction is intended to avoid further commercial and financing impacts that could arise if the suspension remains in force. The company has invested more than $4 billion in the project, with $2.7 billion already drawn under project financing, Equinor said.
The developer said it has coordinated with multiple federal agencies on national security reviews since securing the project lease in 2017 and has complied with security-related requirements identified during the regulatory process. Empire added that it meets regularly with oversight officials, including holding weekly meetings with the U.S. Coast Guard and other marine first responders.
Empire Wind, being developed under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, is intended to provide a near-term source of electricity for New York. The project is more than 60% complete and had a gross book value of about $3.1 billion as of Sept. 30, 2025, including the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
Construction has supported nearly 4,000 jobs across the lease area and associated port infrastructure, Equinor said. The company added that contractors are complying with the suspension order while continuing limited activities necessary to protect health, safety and the environment.
