NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general sued the Trump administration on Friday over its decision to halt two major offshore wind projects expected to power more than 1 million homes in the state.
State Attorney General Letitia James indicated in legal challenges filed in federal court that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s order, which suspended construction citing national security concerns, was arbitrary and unwarranted.
The Democrat asserted that the Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind projects had already been subjected to more than a decade of security and safety assessments by federal, state, and local authorities. Stopping the projects, according to James, poses a threat to New York’s economy and energy infrastructure. She urged the court to intervene, stating, “New Yorkers deserve clean, reliable energy, good-paying jobs, and a government that follows the law.”
She expressed concern that the administration's decision represents a reckless choice that jeopardizes workers, families, and climate goals.
Spokespersons for the Interior Department and its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management declined to comment as the litigation is ongoing.
The Interior Department's order also suspended three other offshore wind projects along the East Coast. Officials maintain that the movement of large turbine blades can create radar interference known as 'clutter,' which can obscure legitimate moving targets.
Trump has previously criticized offshore wind developments, describing them as unattractive and threatening to wildlife, while favoring fossil fuels for electricity generation.
Empire Wind, located about 14 miles southeast of Long Island, is projected to provide electricity to over 500,000 homes and is reportedly 60% complete. Sunrise Wind is expected to power about 600,000 homes and is 45% complete. Both developers have initiated their own legal challenges, as have the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Previously, James led a coalition challenging Trump's executive order that paused approvals for wind energy projects. A federal judge in Massachusetts recently sided with the attorneys general, overturning Trump's January 2025 order, just before the administration issued the stop-work order on these East Coast projects.
