Overview

• Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered an indefinite halt to the Empire Wind project, citing insufficient analysis during its approval under the Biden administration.
• The Department of the Interior is conducting a comprehensive review of all existing and pending offshore wind permits issued during the Biden presidency.
• Empire Wind, located 12 nautical miles south of Long Island, had recently begun preliminary construction activities, including underwater rock installation by Equinor.
• Critics of offshore wind development, including fishing and wildlife advocates, have raised concerns about marine habitat destruction and risks to endangered species.
• The Trump administration’s actions mark a significant shift in U.S. renewable energy policy, pausing new offshore wind leases and approvals to reassess environmental and community impacts.