After a one-month suspension, Empire Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of the Equinor company, has resumed building its record-breaking offshore wind project off New York. The United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a departmental agency of the Interior, has officially withdrawn the April 16, 2025, stop-work order.

This positive Empire Wind construction update 2025 comes after top-level talks with federal, state, and city authorities. Work on the construction will resume immediately, putting the U.S. offshore wind industry back on the move.

Half a Million Houses Powered by 2027

The Empire Wind project, which produces 810 megawatts of clean power, will supply about 500,000 homes once it is operational in 2027. The project is 30% finished. With the approvals now being in place, Equinor is now in position to go ahead with installation procedures within the offshore construction window in 2025.

Equinor CEO Anders Opedal was thrilled and upbeat: "We look forward to the opportunity to restart building Empire Wind, a project that demonstrates our commitment to producing energy while benefiting local economies and employment opportunities."

A Project with National Footprint

Leased initially in 2017 during the Trump presidency, the Empire Wind site lease was federally approved in 2023 by President Joe Biden. The project utilizes advanced Vestas wind turbines and features a multi-state supply chain with investments in New York, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Texas, and South Carolina.

This project meets the energy objectives of New York and the U.S., said Molly Morris, Equinor Wind US President. "Empire Wind provides supply chain investment in states across the nation.".

Financial Review and Policy Implications

During the month-long hiatus, Equinor will re-evaluate the financial feasibility of the project in Q2 2025. The company was spending about $50 million a week during the pause period to keep the project on hold for a potential restart—unaffordably so without resolution.

Rescission of the stop-work order has been met with welcome relief by the wider renewable energy sector. It has been seen as a strong message that the U.S. administration is committed to maintaining the integrity of fully approved energy projects.

This Empire Wind construction update 2025 also indicates more stability for long-term infrastructure investors, who were rattled by the abrupt stoppage.

Behind the Political Curtain

Reuters reports that stop order removal may be included as part of a greater energy deal with New York State. The agreement can expedite the delayed Constitution natural gas pipeline—a planned project that was previously shelved due to environmental concerns—ahead of the election.

This political compromise demonstrates how convoluted and interdependent federal and state energy agendas are. As much as the Empire Wind restart is welcome news for renewables, it also points to more systemic strategic bargaining in America's evolving energy landscape.

Offshore Wind in the United States

The United States currently has four operational offshore wind farms and four in development. Among them, Empire Wind is one of the largest. It's an experiment in how the nation balances renewable energy development with regulatory predictability.

The latest Empire Wind construction update 2025 is comforting for the industry stakeholders. It shows that even in the face of looming threats of shifting politics and rising costs, offshore wind is the priority.

Looking Ahead

With the stop-work order officially lifted and production back in progress, Equinor is again on target to meet its 2027 commercial operation goal. The firm will now be working closely with regulators and suppliers to minimize the impact of the delay. Empire Wind is not just a source of clean power—but also an emblem of resolve and policy alignment in America's clean energy revolution.