Equinor has warned that its Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project off New York could be cancelled unless a US stop-work order is lifted and critical construction activities can resume by 16 January 2026.
The order was issued on 22 December 2025 by the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), directing a suspension of ongoing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf and citing national security concerns. Reporting on the federal action has linked the decision to Pentagon concerns about potential radar interference.
In a legal challenge filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, Equinor has said the interruption threatens a tightly sequenced construction plan and raises financing risks. The company has indicated that it will seek a preliminary injunction to allow work to continue while the case proceeds.
Equinor has also outlined the scale of its exposure. As of 30 September 2025, the gross book value of Empire Wind 1, including the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, was about $3.1 billion. As of 30 November 2025, about $2.8 billion had been drawn under the project finance term loan facility. At the time the stop-work order was issued, the company said the project was more than 60% complete.
The halt has triggered further legal action at the state level. New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed lawsuits challenging the federal suspension affecting Empire Wind and Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind project.
