Overview
- U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols granted a preliminary injunction allowing Equinor’s Empire Wind project off New York to restart construction, citing likely irreparable harm.
- Nichols faulted the government for not addressing key procedural arguments raised by the developer as it defends a December 22 halt based on classified national security claims.
- The ruling follows Senior Judge Royce Lamberth’s order earlier this week letting Ørsted’s nearly complete Revolution Wind project resume work during litigation.
- Empire Wind is about 60% complete, has cost more than $4 billion to date, and is designed to power roughly 500,000 homes, with tight vessel schedules adding urgency to the restart.
- Vineyard Wind filed for emergency relief Thursday in Massachusetts, Sunrise Wind’s case remains pending, and a hearing on Dominion’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind is scheduled for Friday.