The Empire Wind project off the coast of New York is back in action after the reversal of a stop-work order from the Trump administration. The project, developed by energy firm Equinor, had been paused since mid-April over environmental review concerns. With construction resuming, there are plenty of economic implications not only for New York, but the future of America’s energy grid.
Empire Wind is projected to power over 500,000 homes and generate more than 1,000 union construction jobs, many centered at the redeveloped South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. Equinor estimates the two-phase, $5 billion project will bring over $6 billion in long-term economic activity to New York. Canceling the project would have meant not only the loss of those investments but a broader blow to offshore wind’s momentum in the country.
The initial break in April, which froze construction at 30% completion, was costing Equinor roughly $50 million per week. The delay created uncertainty across the industry, as other developers such as Shell and TotalEnergies have since scaled back U.S. offshore plans. Locally, it stalled supply chain investments and disrupted workforce development programs tied to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, where union jobs and training initiatives were already occurring.
At the same time, the economic pressure to expand domestic energy infrastructure has never been more pressing. Demand from AI data centers, electrification, and advanced manufacturing is straining regional grids, particularly in high-density areas like New York City. Offshore wind offers one of the few scalable and near-term solutions.
The economic upside of continuation outweighed the political and environmental doubts. While questions remain about the ecological impact of offshore turbines, particularly on marine life, federal agencies have yet to report conclusive evidence of harm. Scrapping a multi-billion-dollar project like this would have left behind lost jobs, unmet energy demands, and a disrupted supply chain. These are economic setbacks that would be difficult to recover from.
Overall, the Empire Wind reversal shows the balance between regulatory caution and infrastructure urgency. With electricity demand accelerating and clean energy targets emerging, policy decisions that create uncertainty can be felt across the sector.