Equinor Ordered to Halt the Offshore Construction of Empire Wind

17 April 2025

Empire Wind 1 visualization. (Image credit: Equinor)

In accordance with a halt work order issued by the US government, Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) will safely halt the offshore construction in waters of the outer continental shelf for the Empire Wind project.

On April 16, Empire received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) ordering Empire to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review.

Empire is engaging with relevant authorities to clarify this matter and is considering its legal remedies, including appealing the order.

The federal lease for Empire Wind was signed with the US Administration in 2017. Empire Wind 1 has validly secured all necessary federal and state permits and is currently under construction. The project is being developed under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide an important new source of electricity for the State of New York. The construction phase has put more than 1,500 people to work in the US. Empire Wind 1 has the potential to power 500,000 New York homes.

Empire is complying with the order, which affects project activities for Empire Wind. Upon receipt of the order, immediate steps were taken by Empire and its contractors to initiate the suspension of relevant marine activities, ensuring the safety of workers and the environment.

Empire Wind’s gross book value, including South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, was around $2.5 billion as of March 31, 2025.

Equinor’s ownership of Empire is held through Equinor Wind US LLC.

The total amount drawn under the project finance term loan facility on March 31, 2025, was around $1.5 billion. Empire is in the process of ascertaining the impact on the project and project financing. Equinor US Holdings Inc has provided guarantees for the equity commitment in the project financing. In a full stop scenario, the $1.5 billion will be repaid from the equity commitment to the project finance lenders and Empire Offshore Wind LLC will be exposed to termination fees towards its suppliers.

The halt work order will be disclosed as a subsequent event in the first quarter of 2025 report.

Equinor is a broad energy company with more than 35 years of history in the US. Equinor has invested more than $60 billion in the US to date, including in oil, gas and renewables.