By Blake Jackson
A federal stop-work order on the Empire Wind 1 project has placed thousands of jobs and billions in potential economic growth for New York in jeopardy.
This action, directed by the new administration, paused construction on the offshore wind project, citing the need for further review of the approval process.
The decision impacts a fully permitted and federally approved project that took 14 years to develop. Empire Wind is led by Equinor and was set to power over 500,000 homes with clean energy. It promised a $12.1 billion impact on the New York economy and 6,800 well-paying jobs.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have challenged the move legally, while Congressman Dan Goldman called the order “a devastating hit to South Brooklyn’s economy as well as the nation’s.”
The South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), a major site for turbine assembly and offshore wind support, has already employed 1,500 workers.
The Project Labor Agreement signed with Equinor ensures over 1,000 local union jobs, including opportunities for veterans and public housing residents.
Although offshore work has been paused, onshore construction at SBMT continues. Local Union No. 3’s Christopher Erikson expressed disappointment - “We were anticipating this work opportunity for such a long time… to have the rug pulled out from under us was disappointing.”
Additionally, a wind safety training facility in Walden, NY, funded through a federal grant, may now be at risk, halting workforce development for the region.
Critics argue this decision undermines clean energy investment. “We can debate science or even the climate crisis but saying no to a project like this that is already underway is just bad for business,” said Esther Rosario, executive director of Climate Jobs NY.
Offshore wind supporters warn this move discourages future investment, delaying clean energy goals and harming communities that were promised economic renewal.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-laughingmango
Categories: New York, Energy, Government & Policy