ASBURY PARK, NJ — When you hear the name Empire Wind, you might think of Long Island and New York City, but the reality is, this New York based off-shore wind farm would have sat just miles off the northern Jersey Shore.
This week, the Trump Administration ordered a halt to the Empire Wind offshore project this week, following pressure from Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and citing concerns over environmental reviews and national security risks.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to cease construction on the wind project off the coasts of New Jersey and New York, stating that project approvals may have been rushed during the previous administration.
In a statement Wednesday, Smith said, “This is a great victory for all of us who have been fighting to protect the Jersey Shore from offshore wind industrialization.” He applauded both President Trump and Secretary Burgum for taking action in response to concerns raised over the last several years.
Burgum, in a letter to the acting director of the bureau, wrote that newly obtained information “raises serious issues with respect to project approvals” and noted that the project may have lacked sufficient interagency consultation and environmental scrutiny.
Smith had sent a letter in late March to Secretary Burgum urging him to “do everything in your power to halt Equinor’s underhanded rush to begin piledriving,” referring to the construction techniques involved in turbine installation.
Equinor is a company based out of Norway.
GAO report fuels additional scrutiny
On Monday, the Government Accountability Office released a report supporting concerns raised by Smith and other lawmakers. The report concluded that offshore wind installations may interfere with national defense systems and aviation and maritime safety due to radar disruptions. Smith had previously worked with House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman and Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Andy Harris to initiate the GAO review.
Smith argued that the Biden-era National Environmental Policy Act review failed to address critical issues, stating the approvals posed threats to “national security, environmental health, and the economic wellbeing of nearby communities.”
Key Points
- Trump Administration halts Empire Wind offshore project citing rushed approval process
- GAO report supports concerns over wind turbines interfering with radar and national defense
- Rep. Chris Smith led recent push with letter to Secretary Burgum urging project suspension
Smith described the decision as a “huge relief” for residents and stakeholders, criticizing prior federal and state handling of offshore wind energy development.