New York Attorney General Letitia James filed two lawsuits on January 9, 2026, against the Trump administration to challenge stop-work orders on two major offshore wind projects. These legal actions target the U.S. Department of the Interior’s December 22, 2025, decision to suspend construction of the Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind projects, citing national security concerns stemming from Pentagon radar interference complaints.
Offshore Wind Projects Details
Empire Wind, developed by Equinor, seeks to power 500,000 homes off New York’s coast, while Sunrise Wind, led by Ørsted near Long Island, targets 600,000 households. Both projects underwent over a decade of federal, state, and local reviews before construction, supporting New York’s shift from fossil fuels.
Reasons for Federal Pause
The Interior Department paused all work for at least 90 days due to classified national security concerns about wind turbine impacts on military radar detection. The lawsuits say no project-specific findings justified this override, and Equinor warned of possible contract termination by January 16 if work doesn’t resume. A hearing on a preliminary injunction is set for next week.
New York State’s Legal Claims
James stated that the orders violate the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary, lacking reasoned explanations or evidence that existing safeguards are insufficient. Filed in the Washington federal court, the suits request immediate injunctions against the pauses to address concerns related to jobs, energy goals, and climate targets. James cited the abrupt halt to construction after it began in her statement.
Developer Responses and Broader Impact
Orsted separately sued Sunrise Wind and Rhode Island’s Revolution Wind, winning a prior federal block on a related Trump stop-work order in September 2025. The suspensions risk construction delays, higher costs, and lost economic benefits for New York’s offshore wind sector. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority joined the Empire Wind suit, stressing threats to the state’s clean energy transition.
Potential Construction Delays
Empire Wind risks shutdown by mid-January 2026, halting turbines and jobs; Sunrise Wind delays could affect supply chains and lease terms. Legal experts say the cases test federal authority over approved renewable projects.
Altogether, this dispute highlights ongoing tensions between offshore wind expansion and defense priorities. New York’s lawsuits push for quick federal court rulings to resume work, and outcomes may shape future U.S. renewable delays under current policies.
Image Credit – crainsnewyork.com
