Hochul, Unions Rally in Defense of Offshore Wind

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Three of the five were more than halfway built, and another was not far behind; one is already delivering power to the Massachusetts grid. Two were due to deliver power to New York.

The state’s building trades unions are not pleased. The paused New York projects collectively employ thousands of workers. On Friday, several hundred workers, including Juli — a member of the Dockbuilders and Timbermen Local 1556 — packed a union hall in central Long Island to voice their frustration. Standing alongside them were environmentalists, local elected officials, and Governor Kathy Hochul, who boasted that she has “union blood running through [her] veins.”

Hochul and union leaders alike used their speeches to rail against local politicians — mainly Republicans — who have taken Trump’s side on the issue.

“Green energy is jobs for the building trades,” said Kevin Casey, business manager of IBEW Local 25. “If there’s any politicians in the back there that don’t support it, do not call me for support in your reelection.”

Hochul urged union members to call congresspeople who oppose offshore wind. “Let them know there are consequences to that,” she said. “You cannot turn your back on the Long Island economy.”

The last time Trump stopped work on Empire Wind, Hochul talked him out of it — in part by agreeing to reconsider gas pipelines he wanted built. (She has since approved one.)

This time, she said, she hasn’t had much luck dissuading him. At the rally, she struck a combative tone, calling the administration’s national security rationale “BS.” Friday evening, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed twin lawsuits seeking to lift the orders against Empire and Sunrise wind.

The developers of the two projects, Norway’s Equinor and Denmark’s Ørsted, had already sued, along with Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The two companies say the stakes for their projects are existential. In a filing last week, Equinor threatened to pull the plug altogether on Empire Wind — which it says is 60 percent complete — if a judge does not allow it to resume construction by this Friday.

Sunrise Wind says it is losing $1.25 million per day due to project delays.

On Monday evening, a federal judge lifted a stop order on Revolution Wind, off Rhode Island and Connecticut. (In response, the White House reiterated its position that “wind energy is the scam of the century” and vowed “ultimate victory.”) More such decisions could soon follow; the same judge is presiding over the Sunrise case, and a hearing in the Empire case is set for tomorrow.