New York attorney general sues Trump administration over offshore wind project freeze

New York’s attorney general has launched a legal challenge against the Trump administration over its decision to halt two major offshore wind projects that would power more than 1 million homes across the state.

Attorney General Letitia James filed federal lawsuits in Washington on Friday, contending that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s December 22 order suspending construction on the Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects was “arbitrary and unwarranted.” The department cited national security concerns when issuing the suspension.

James argued that both projects had already undergone extensive security and safety reviews spanning more than a decade by federal, state, and local authorities. According to her statement, the sudden pause threatens New York’s economy, energy infrastructure, and environmental goals.

“New Yorkers deserve clean, reliable energy, good-paying jobs, and a government that follows the law,” James said. “This reckless decision puts workers, families, and our climate goals at risk.”

The Interior Department and its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management declined to comment on the litigation.

The federal order issued last month affected not only the New York projects but also three additional offshore wind developments under construction along the East Coast. The Interior Department claims that the movement of massive turbine blades can create radar interference called “clutter” that potentially obscures legitimate targets and generates false readings.

The timing of the suspension has raised questions about political motivation. Former President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January, has consistently criticized offshore wind developments, describing them as aesthetically unappealing, financially burdensome, and harmful to wildlife. His energy platform strongly favors fossil fuels over renewable energy solutions.

The Empire Wind project, situated approximately 14 miles southeast of Long Island, is designed to generate enough electricity to power more than 500,000 homes. According to Equinor, the Norwegian energy company developing the project, construction is about 60% complete.

Similarly, the Sunrise Wind project, located about 30 miles east of Montauk, is expected to power approximately 600,000 homes. Danish energy company Orsted, which is developing this project, reports it is roughly 45% complete.

The legal challenge from New York is part of a broader pushback against the administration’s wind energy policies. Both Equinor and Orsted have filed their own legal challenges against the suspension. Additionally, Connecticut and Rhode Island have joined the legal fight with their own lawsuits, highlighting the regional economic impact of these projects.

This latest legal action follows a previous coalition effort led by James, which included attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C. That coalition successfully challenged Trump’s executive order pausing approvals, permits, and loans for all wind energy projects, both onshore and offshore.

Last month, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled in favor of the attorneys general coalition and vacated the January 20 order. The Trump administration responded by issuing the specific stop-work order on the East Coast projects just days after the court ruling.

The legal battle highlights the growing tension between state-level renewable energy initiatives and federal energy policies. New York has established ambitious climate goals, with offshore wind development playing a crucial role in its plans to reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy.

Energy analysts note that the continued uncertainty surrounding these projects could have significant implications for investor confidence in the U.S. renewable energy sector and potentially slow America’s transition to clean energy at a time when many other nations are accelerating their investments in wind power.