NEW YORK – In a significant legal move, New York Attorney General Letitia James has initiated two lawsuits against the Trump administration for its abrupt decision to cease construction on two major offshore wind projects. These projects, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind, are vital for providing electricity to over a million homes in New York.
Last month, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) issued stop-work orders for the New York-based Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects, citing unspecified “national security” concerns. Attorney General James has challenged these orders, highlighting that extensive national security and safety reviews had already been conducted, and that halting these projects could potentially disrupt New York’s economy and energy infrastructure.
Attorney General James stated, “New Yorkers deserve clean, reliable energy, good-paying jobs, and a government that follows the law.” She emphasized the importance of these projects which were “carefully reviewed and already under construction” before the federal intervention.
Governor Kathy Hochul echoed James’s stance, criticizing the administration’s decision as lacking legal justification and detrimental to energy independence. “The Trump administration’s incomprehensible obsession with shutting down these fully permitted projects lacks legal justification,” she remarked, noting the economic and energy ramifications for New York.
Project Details and Impact
The Sunrise Wind project is situated approximately 30 miles east of Montauk and aims to power around 600,000 homes. Meanwhile, the Empire Wind project, positioned about 14 miles southeast of Long Island, is set to supply energy to over 500,000 homes. Notably, Empire Wind would be the inaugural offshore wind venture to deliver electricity directly to New York City, thereby bolstering the energy grid in one of the nation’s most energy-challenged locales.
These projects have already seen considerable progress, employing thousands of workers and attracting significant investment. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris highlighted, “Together, they will generate more than 1,700 megawatts of power—enough to meet roughly 10 percent of the electricity needs of New York City and Long Island.”
Legal and Environmental Review
Prior to construction, the projects underwent a decade-long review process involving federal, state, and local agencies, including the Department of Defense. These reviews affirmed the projects’ compliance with legal standards, incorporating mitigation measures for any national security concerns.
The DOI’s recent order mandates a 90-day suspension, citing vague national security issues based on classified information, but providing no concrete findings or rationale for the inadequacy of existing safeguards.
Economic and Environmental Concerns
James argues that the halt will have detrimental effects, threatening thousands of union jobs, substantial investments, and critical infrastructure improvements. The pause could also delay or derail New York’s clean energy objectives, prolonging dependence on older fossil-fuel plants with higher pollution and costs.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, James’s lawsuits contend that the federal orders are “arbitrary and capricious,” violating the Administrative Procedure Act, and seek to prevent their enforcement.
Original Story at ag.ny.gov