Image: The Statue of Liberty by Stephen Tafra

Empire Windfarm has been given the go-ahead after a u-turn by the Trump administration. Only last month, 16th April, President Trump issued a stop-work order on Empire Wind, a USD 5 billion project to build a wind farm off the coast of New York.

At the time, Kathy Hochul, New York Governor, reacted to the decision to halt the windfarm saying: “I will not allow this federal overreach to stand. I will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New York’s economic future.” 

Windfarm moves ahead following pipeline compromise

After a series of talks between the Trump administration and the state of New York, the suspension order was lifted. However, as part of the deal it appears that the cancelled gas pipeline project, which proposed a pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York and was subject to years of opposition, may be back on the cards. 

Boost to Brooklyn

Sunset Park, Brooklyn, had been the base for the windfarm’s operations before the stop-work order. The turn-around is welcome news to UPROSE, a grass roots organisation that has long advocated for new jobs in the area that support a just transition. UPROSE director, Elizabeth Yeampierre, reacted to the news saying: “I think that we need some good news right now. We really need to know that our hard work and our lifelong commitment can bring benefits to our communities.”

Image: Brooklyn Bridge by Miltiadis Fragkidis