The wind energy sector in the United States has been through a turbulent year, with the Donald Trump administration actively pushing back on the progress of the sector in America. Despite the tension, the Empire Wind project in New York state has advanced, paving the way for the project to deliver its first electricity to the grid by late 2026. The 810 MW capacity wind project will boost New York’s clean energy output in a nation that has been rolling back permits for wind energy projects at an astonishing rate, effectively killing off the market in the United States.
Equinor is leading the charge to complete the Empire Wind offshore project
Equinor brings over 20 years of experience to the project, which is a much-needed injection of expertise to bring the project to fruition. The company has wind energy assets in a litany of nations, including the UK, Poland, Germany, and South Korea. The Empire Wind project is located approximately 15-30 miles southeast of Long Island and is being developed by Equinor in two phases.
Empire Wind 1 will supply Brooklyn with 810 MW of clean and renewable energy from the wind farm, which is enough to power upwards of 500,000 homes in Brooklyn. The state has expressed its intention to develop 9 GW of offshore wind power to the grid by 2035, a lofty ambition that may be subject to the disdain for wind power that the current administration has expressed on numerous occasions.
The Empire Wind project will be a landmark achievement for the state of New York
The project will be the first ever to deliver clean energy to New York City. The power generated on-site will be directed to the Sunset Park Onshore Substation, which is located right next to the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. From there, it will continue onwards to the Gowanus Brooklyn Substation, where it will be fed into the city’s grid.
New York is aiming to become the home of wind power in the United States
The Empire Wind project will strengthen the state’s ambitions to become the go-to destination for renewable energy generation in the US. The Empire Wind 1 site will feature 54 wind turbines measuring 951 feet tall and will be installed in a triangular shape to allow for maritime navigation through the turbines. The turbines are being supplied by Vestas.
The progress made in advancing the Empire Wind project comes as Donald Trump has implemented tariffs on turbines made outside of the US. At the moment, Trump has set a 50% tariff on wind turbines, which are mostly made with Chinese components. As Europe embraces the energy-generating potential of the wind sector, Trump has not budged on his view of wind power.
Market analysts have noted that Trump’s policies will lead to over $114 billion in wind energy investments being cancelled. Offshore wind projects have been popping up and down the East Coast of America, with roughly 30 wind energy projects being planned. However, thanks to Trump’s policies regarding wind energy generation, the vast majority of these have been cancelled, with only seven remaining.
Some other US states have been standing firm in the face of adversity
New York is one state that has unequivocally stood up to Trump and his policies regarding the wind energy market. While the stance taken by New York is commendable, it does not stand alone in its embrace of renewable energy. The Coastal Virginia offshore wind project remains on track for a 2026 completion date, setting the stage for more projects to defy the current administration. With media outlets reporting Trump’s approval rating tanking, the President may need to reconsider his sentiment for renewable energy, although we are not expecting any changes.
