New York, NY: In response to the Department of the Interior issuing a memorandum directing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to use its authority to halt construction activities at Empire Wind 1 off Long Island, NY, New York League of Conservation Voters and the League of Conservation Voters released the following statements:

“Halting Empire Wind I is an attack on New York’s clean energy future and a gift to fossil fuel interests,” said Julie Tighe, President of New York League of Conservation Voters. “With one move, the federal government is putting thousands of union jobs on the line, threatening the reliability of Long Island’s power grid, and turning its back on communities vulnerable to coastal erosion and pollution. This project would deliver clean power to half a million homes and boost local economies — scrapping it now is not just reckless, it’s indefensible. New Yorkers shouldn’t have to pay the price for political payback and backwards energy policies.”

“President Trump and his administration continue to base their decisions off conspiracy theories and ridiculous claims that are hurting everyday people,” said David Shadburn, Legislative Director at the League of Conservation Voters. “Clean energy projects, like Empire Wind 1, are the fastest, least expensive way to get more energy onto the grid. Halting this project will do nothing other than raise energy prices for working families and threaten thousands of good paying construction jobs. If the government cannot be trusted to keep its word honoring permits after thorough environmental reviews, it will have a chilling effect not just against clean energy but the entire business sector. The absolute last thing the country needs is a ban on clean affordable energy.”

Empire Wind could power over 500,000 homes and support thousands of good-paying, union jobs. Empire Wind supports the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, which would create over 1,000 union jobs and apprenticeships, and numerous other investments in New York City to spur energy innovation and train new energy workers.