New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed two lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s decision to halt construction of the Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind offshore wind projects. The cases contest stop-work orders issued late last month by the Department of the Interior, which directed the immediate suspension of construction citing unspecified national security concerns.
The Attorney General argues that the orders are unjustified, noting that both projects have undergone extensive national security and safety reviews over several years. The filings state that the sudden suspension risks negative impacts on New York’s economy and electricity system and lacks a clear explanation for the federal government’s change in position.
Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind are being built off the coast of Long Island. Sunrise Wind, located around 30 miles east of Montauk, is under construction and is expected to supply electricity to around 600,000 New York homes. Empire Wind, located about 14 miles southeast of Long Island, is also under construction and is expected to supply more than 500,000 homes.
The lawsuits were filed in the District Court for the District of Columbia. They argue that the stop-work orders are arbitrary and capricious and therefore violate the Administrative Procedure Act. The Attorney General is seeking a court ruling to declare the orders unlawful and to block their enforcement.
