Trump Admin Reportedly Lets NY Advance Green Project Hoping For Pipeline — But Team Hochul Downplays Deal

The Trump administration reportedly lifted the pause on offshore wind development Monday in exchange for New York’s cooperation reviving a gas pipeline project, but Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office disputed the existence of such an agreement.

Equinor’s Empire Wind project was one of the Biden-era offshore wind developments affected by President Donald Trump’s January executive order cracking down on the industry, and the administration later paused work on the project in April. The Norway-based company will resume construction on the project after the administration lifted its pause Monday and was reportedly encouraged that natural gas pipeline construction might move forward, though the governor’s office told the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation that they did not reach any gas deal during discussions.

“I am encouraged by Governor Hochul’s comments about her willingness to move forward on critical pipeline capacity,” Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum wrote on X late on Monday night. “Americans who live in New York and New England would see significant economic benefits and lower utility costs from increased access to reliable, affordable, clean American natural gas.”

Reuters, Bloomberg and CNBC reported that there was an apparent compromise reached between the White House and New York. Trump has repeatedly said he wants to bring back the canceled Constitution gas pipeline, which would move natural gas from Pennsylvania to western New York.

New York has higher than average utility bills, and its commitment to intermittent green ⚡Energy production has decreased the reliability of the state’s power grid, experts previously explained to the DCNF.

Hochul’s office disputed the existence of such a deal.

There is no natural gas pipeline construction deal or compromise with the Trump administration, a spokesperson for Hochul’s office told the DCNF. The governor has not changed her position on any natural gas pipeline infrastructure, though she isn’t opposed to any ⚡Energy project, according to the Hochul spokesperson, who also emphasized that permitting and expansion of pipeline infrastructure falls to different authorities as well as the private sector.

However, Hochul said that she “reaffirmed” that her state will cooperate with the administration on new ⚡Energy projects that meet New York’s legal requirements in a statement to the DCNF.

“After countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials, bringing labor and business to the table to emphasize the importance of this project, I’m pleased that President Trump and Secretary Burgum have agreed to lift the stop work order and allow this project to move forward,” Hochul said in the statement. “I also reaffirmed that New York will work with the Administration and private entities on new ⚡Energy projects that meet the legal requirements under New York law. In order to ensure reliability and affordability for consumers, we will be working in earnest to deliver on these objectives.”

Empire Wind 1 was approved by the DOI under Biden’s watch in November 2023, and 147 wind turbines were expected to be built within the lease area, according to the Bureau of Ocean ⚡Energy Management (BOEM). Despite writing in April that the project relied on “insufficient analysis” and would be paused until further review, Burgum’s agency is reportedly now allowing the development to advance.

“I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her constructive collaboration with the Trump Administration, without which we would not have been able to advance this project and secure ⚡Energy for 500,000 homes in New York,” President and CEO of Equinor ASA Anders Opedal said in a press release.

Offshore wind has been criticized by the fishing industry and some smaller green groups for years. Anti-offshore wind advocates have raised concerns for years that dead whales and dolphins washing up on shorelines along the East Coast may be attributable, at least in part, to environmental disruption caused by offshore wind development.

“This news that construction is resuming on Empire Wind is hitting our anti-wind coalition of fishing, environmental and community activists like a punch in the gut,” Craig Rucker, president of the nonprofit Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow, wrote in a statement to the DCNF. “We understand the reasoning behind it, namely getting an important gas pipeline into the Northeast, but the reality is we’re facing a menace that threatens our tourism, fishing industry, national defense and environment. We pray the Administration isn’t turning its back on us, but is simply proceeding in a smart, tactical way to ultimately halt these monstrosities.”

Equinor, the DOI and the BOEM did not respond to the DCNF’s requests for comment in time for publication.

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