Equinor could cancel New York offshore project due to Trump's order
Developer of major U.S. off-shore wind project warns that it will cancel Empire Wind facility near the coast of New York, if they cannot resolve a stop-work order from the Trump administration issued a month ago.
Molly Morris is the president of Equinor's U.S. renewable energy division. She said that the company spends $50 million per week to keep this project alive.
Morris stated in an interview that the situation was no longer sustainable.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Equinor on April 17 to stop construction of the project, citing information that suggested former President Joe Biden's administration may have approved the project without conducting a thorough analysis.
Donald Trump directed his administration on Monday to expedite approvals of energy projects in order to meet the soaring demand for energy in the United States. Interior Department announced on Monday that it would complete an environmental review of a Utah Uranium Mine in two weeks.
However, wind is not included in this effort. On his first day as president, Trump issued an order stopping new wind leasing and permitting. He said that the projects were ugly, expensive, and harmful to wildlife.
Morris, Equinor's Morris, said that the stop-work orders were a result of a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a division within the Commerce Department. However, the company did not see the report and wasn't aware of any specific concerns raised.
NOAA helps the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management of the Interior Department in approving offshore wind projects. This is done by assessing impact on marine mammals and fishing.
Interior Department officials could not be reached for immediate comment. A NOAA spokesperson declined comment.
Morris stated that Equinor's 11 vessels, with 100 workers aboard, are waiting on the water for an order to resume their work.
The project has already been funded by $2.7 billion. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Rosalba o'Brien and Nichola Groom)
(source: Reuters)
