A federal judge has delivered a significant legal victory to the offshore wind industry, ruling that a major New York project can resume construction despite an order from the Trump administration to pause it.
Legal Blow to Presidential Order
On Thursday, 15 January 2026, District Judge Carl J. Nichols cleared the way for the Empire Wind project to restart its construction activities. Judge Nichols, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, ruled that work could proceed while he considers the full merits of the government's order to suspend the project.
The judge criticised the administration for failing to respond to key arguments in the developer's court filings. These included the claim that the government violated proper procedure when it issued the suspension order just days before Christmas, citing national security concerns.
A Pattern of Courtroom Defeats
This ruling marks the second time this week that a developer has successfully challenged the administration's sweeping pause. On Monday, Senior Judge Royce Lamberth allowed Danish energy company Orsted to resume work on its Revolution Wind project, which serves Rhode Island and Connecticut. Judge Lamberth found the government did not sufficiently justify a complete halt to construction.
The Trump administration's order froze five major offshore wind projects along the US East Coast. Developers and several states swiftly filed lawsuits, arguing the move jeopardised critical plans for renewable energy. Offshore wind is considered essential for East Coast states with limited land for large-scale onshore wind or solar farms.
Project Details and Industry Stakes
The Empire Wind project, owned by Norwegian energy giant Equinor, is approximately 60% complete. Once finished, it is designed to power more than 500,000 homes. Equinor had argued the pause threatened the entire venture, citing the limited availability of specialised construction vessels and the prospect of heavy financial losses if delayed.
During a hearing, the government's associate attorney general, Stanley Woodward Jr., defended the pause, likening the potential risk to that of a nuclear project. However, Judge Nichols noted the government's primary security concerns appeared to relate to the operation of the turbines, not their construction.
Other projects affected include Orsted's Sunrise Wind for New York, Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, and the Vineyard Wind project in Massachusetts. Legal challenges are ongoing or planned for most.
Molly Morris, Equinor's senior vice president, stated the company is focused on delivering this major new source of clean power for New York. The successive court rulings represent a substantial setback for the administration's efforts to curtail the rapidly growing offshore wind sector.
