Judge scrutinizes Trump's freeze of an offshore wind project
AP News • • business
Key Points:
- A federal judge is reviewing whether to overturn a Trump administration order pausing construction on the Empire Wind offshore project in New York, which is 60% complete and intended to power over 500,000 homes.
- The administration froze five major East Coast offshore wind projects citing national security concerns, but has not publicly disclosed specific reasons, leading to lawsuits from developers and states.
- Judge Carl J. Nichols criticized the government for failing to address key legal arguments and questioned the focus on turbine operation rather than construction as the main security issue.
- Equinor, the Norwegian developer, warned of severe financial losses and limited availability of specialized vessels needed to complete the project, emphasizing the urgency of resuming work.
- The Trump administration’s opposition to offshore wind
