We Needs Your Help: U.S. Offshore Wind Jobs and Domestic Investment

On December 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued an immediate pause on the leases of five fully permitted offshore wind projects in the Atlantic Ocean, citing potential national security concerns and halting offshore construction. These projects complied with all applicable state and federal laws and underwent years of extensive review and coordination with federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. This decision now places billions of dollars in private investment, thousands of jobs, and long-term energy reliability at risk.

Two of the affected projects—Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind—are based in New York, but the impacts extend well beyond the state, affecting active and planned projects in Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Why this matters for New York and the region

Energy affordability and stability
Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind are supported by 25-year fixed-price contracts that help stabilize utility bills and reduce long-term price volatility. A 2025 Aurora Energy Research study found that once New York’s first three offshore wind projects are operational, they could save New Yorkers $77 million during a single high-cost winter month. Canceling these projects would increase electricity prices to replace lost capacity.

Grid reliability and blackout prevention
Together, the projects would supply approximately 10 percent of the combined electricity demand of New York City and Long Island, powering more than one million homes and adding over 1.7 gigawatts to the grid. Offshore wind delivers consistent, large-scale power close to coastal load centers, where demand is highest. In early 2025, New York’s first offshore wind farm generated power 92 percent of the time, with performance comparable to the state’s most efficient natural gas plants.

Jobs and economic growth
Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind support more than 7,500 U.S. construction, manufacturing, and shipbuilding jobs nationwide, including nearly two million union labor hours already logged in New York. More than 100 U.S. companies are contributing to these projects. Together, Ørsted and Equinor have invested in over 20 new U.S.-flagged, Jones Act–compliant vessels, strengthening the domestic maritime fleet. By 2030, these projects are expected to invest more than $2.5 billion in New York’s economy.

National security and energy independence
Offshore wind strengthens U.S. energy security by increasing domestic power generation and reducing reliance on imported fuels. These projects underwent years of federal review, including evaluation by the Department of Defense’s Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse, with approvals initiated under the first Trump Administration.

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The Ask: Act Now

We are asking industry partners, workers, community leaders, and supporters to email and call their elected officials immediately to:

• Express support for offshore wind
• Thank officials who have supported the industry
• Urge swift resolution of the federal stop-work order

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You can find your elected officials here:

• Congressional Representatives: [link]
• State Assemblymember: [link]
• State Senator: [link]

Your voice matters. Timely outreach from constituents and stakeholders can help protect jobs, stabilize energy costs, and preserve long-term infrastructure investments.

Thank you for your leadership, advocacy, and continued support of an industry that delivers clean energy, good jobs, and economic growth.

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