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yesterday

Judge Allows Empire Wind to Resume Construction After Trump Suspension

The court found the project faced imminent irreparable harm if delays continued.

FILE - Wind turbine bases, generators and blades sit at The Portsmouth Marine terminal that is the staging area for Dominion Energy Virginia, which is developing Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Dec. 22, 2025, in Portsmouth, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
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FILE - Wind turbine bases, generators and blades sit along with support ships at The Portsmouth Marine terminal that is the staging area for Dominion Energy Virginia, which is developing Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Dec. 22, 2025, in Portsmouth, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
FILE - Wind turbine blades sit at The Portsmouth Marine terminal that is the staging area for Dominion Energy Virginia, which is developing Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Dec. 22, 2025, in Portsmouth, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols granted a preliminary injunction that lifts the Interior Department’s Dec. 22 stop‑work order, allowing Equinor’s New York project to restart while the lawsuit proceeds.
  • Nichols noted the risk of losing specialized vessels and missing binding milestones, and set an expedited briefing schedule with proposals due by Jan. 20.
  • Equinor says Empire Wind is about 60% complete with roughly $4 billion invested and is designed to supply power for more than 500,000 homes through the New York City grid.
  • The administration paused five offshore wind projects citing classified national‑security concerns tied to radar interference; DOJ submitted a classified declaration to the court as senators pressed for access to the underlying reports.
  • The ruling follows a similar injunction for Ørsted’s nearly finished Revolution Wind, while Sunrise Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and Vineyard Wind remain paused as their legal challenges advance, including a Virginia hearing set for Friday.