skip to content

Equinor has suspended offshore construction activities for Empire Wind 1

Empire Wind visualisation
A visualisation of Empire Wind. Image: Equinor

On 16 April, Equinor received notice from the US federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), ordering Equinor, as leaseholder for Empire Wind, to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until further review.

Equinor is complying with the order affecting project activities for Empire Wind. Upon receipt of the order, immediate steps were taken by Equinor and its contractors to initiate suspension of relevant marine activities, ensuring the safety of workers and the environment.

Equinor will engage directly with BOEM and the Department of Interior to understand the questions raised about the permits previously received from authorities.

Equinor signed its federal lease for Empire Wind with the US Administration in 2017. Empire Wind 1 has validly secured all necessary federal and state permits and is currently under construction.

The project is being developed under contract with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide an important new source of electricity for the State of New York. The construction phase has put more than 1,500 people to work in the US.

Renderings of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal
An artist’s impression of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
© Equinor

About Empire Wind 1

Equinor has developed the project since it signed its federal lease for Empire Wind with the US government in 2017.

Empire Wind 1 holds a 25-year power contract with the state of New York and the wind farm will contribute to New York’s energy portfolio needs following Commercial Operations Date (COD), previously announced to be achieved during 2027.

Empire Wind 1 received its Construction and Operations Plan (COP) approval in February 2024 and began onshore construction at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) in spring 2024.

Marine activities resumed in Spring 2025, beginning with rock laying in the lease area.

Construction continues at the SBMT, which is putting more than 1,500 people to work in revitalizing the port into a state-of-the-art onshore operations and maintenance base and offshore wind staging area.

Empire Wind 1 is contributing to create a new U.S. based supply chain that is providing an economic boost not only to New York, but also across the country.

The ECO-Liberty Service Operations Vessel (SOV), being built by Edison Chouest, is nearly complete in Louisiana, built by hundreds of shipbuilders in Louisiana and Mississippi. While this vessel will be the first completed for Empire Wind, there are several other vessels being built for the project in the US.

When in operation the Empire Wind 1 project has the potential to supply 500 000 New York homes with electricity.

Equinor is a broad energy company with over $60 billion in investments across America in our portfolio, including substantial oil, gas and renewables projects.

Equinor in the US

Equinor is a broad energy company with more than 35 years of history in the US. Equinor has invested more than 60 billion USD in the US to date, including substantial oil, gas and renewables projects.

Equinor in the US

Previous Empire Wind 1 announcements and related pages: