Construction activities for the Empire Wind offshore wind project are set to resume following the lifting of a stop work order by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The stop work order issued on April 16, 2025 and has now been withdrawn after engagement between various federal, state, and municipal authorities.
Equinor is expected to undertake a revised assessment of project economics in the second quarter of 2025. The company is aiming to be able to execute planned activities in the offshore installation window in 2025, with the goal of maintaining its target commercial operations date of 2027. The company will also coordinate closely with suppliers and regulatory stakeholders to mitigate the impact of the temporary pause in project activities.
In January 2025, Equinor achieved financial close for the Empire Wind 1 project, securing a project financing package exceeding $3 billion. At present, more than 30 per cent of the overall construction has been completed.
