NYLCV is proud to be a strategic partner of IPF, hosted by Oceantic in New York City from February 9 to 12, 2026. The conference brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to exchange insights and explore actionable strategies for a sustainable energy future. More information is available at the end of this story.
On January 9, NYLCV President Julie Tighe stood shoulder to shoulder with Governor Kathy Hochul, union leaders, and workers in Suffolk County to say what should b
e obvious: New York will not give up on affordable, reliable clean energy – and we will not abandon the workers building it. The rally was the culmination of a full year of fighting back against relentless federal attacks on offshore wind and a clear signal that NYLCV and our partners are in this fight for the long haul.
President Trump was inaugurated one year ago, and almost immediately his administration began targeting offshore wind, one of New York’s most important tools for lowering energy costs, creating union jobs, and reducing our dependence on volatile fossil fuels. Since then, NYLCV has been on the front lines, organizing, mobilizing, and pushing back every step of the way.
Washington Pulls the Plug
That fight came into sharp focus last spring, when the Trump Administration issued a stop-work order on Empire Wind 1 – a fully permitted, shovel-ready project already under construction. The order threatened more than 1,500 good-paying union jobs and jeopardized a project that will ultimately power more than 500,000 homes while strengthening Long Island’s energy reliability.
NYLCV moved quickly. Working with Congressman Dan Goldman and alongside our partners – including the Wind Works New York coalition, a broad alliance of environmental, labor, clergy, and community groups – we went into rapid-response mode, elevating the issue in the press, mobilizing with supporters, and making clear what was really happening: the federal government was siding with fossil fuel interests at the expense of New York workers, families, and public health.
That advocacy paid off. The stop-work order was lifted.
But the attacks didn’t stop there. In early 2025, President Trump issued a sweeping directive ordering federal agencies to halt wind-project permitting nationwide, injecting chaos and uncertainty into an industry that New York depends on to meet growing energy demand.
Taking the Fight to Long Island Communities
Throughout this time, NYLCV has made sure this debate didn’t stay confined to courtrooms and press releases. We took the case for offshore wind directly to Long Island communities. Through on-the-ground canvassing and targeted digital advertising, we engaged residents in conversations about what offshore wind really means: lower and more stable electric bills, thousands of local union jobs, and homegrown energy that isn’t at the mercy of global fossil fuel markets. At a time when families are feeling the squeeze of rising costs, those conversations matter.
NYLCV and our Wind Works New York partners collected more than 14,000 petition signatures from New Yorkers calling on federal leaders to let offshore wind move forward.
A federal court agreed when a ruling made clear that the administration could not lawfully block offshore wind development, dealing a significant defeat to the Trump Administration.
Here We Go Again
Just before the end of the year, the Trump Administration escalated again, issuing another stop-work order that halted two offshore wind projects under construction in New York and three more along the East Coast. The New York projects — Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind — together would deliver more than 1.7 gigawatts of clean, reliable energy — enough to power more than 1.1 million homes — were abruptly frozen, and thousands of union workers were kicked off the job.
Claims about national security do not hold up, especially given that these projects had already undergone exhaustive federal reviews – including by the Department of Defense – before receiving full permits and beginning construction.
While this latest battle is ongoing, a recent ruling allowing Empire Wind to resume construction was a clear victory for workers, families, and New York’s clean energy future. NYLCV welcomed the decision and called for swift action to restore Sunrise Wind and the other halted projects as well.
The Fight Continues
Offshore wind is about more than megawatts. It’s about energy independence rooted here at home — power that isn’t subject to international conflicts or fossil fuel price spikes. It’s about protecting families from the rollercoaster ride of rising electric bills. And it’s about confronting the climate impacts that Long Island already knows all too well, from devastating floods to worsening air pollution.
That was the message NYLCV President Julie Tighe delivered on January 9 in Suffolk County, standing with Governor Hochul and union leaders after yet another federal attempt to shut these projects down. “Blocking clean energy projects while claiming there’s an ‘energy emergency’ makes absolutely no sense,” said Tighe. “Clean, affordable energy is the solution to rising demand, higher costs, and long-term energy stability.”
NYLCV will continue to fight alongside workers, communities, and leaders who understand what’s at stake. We ask that you join us in calling on the entire New York congressional delegation – Democrats and Republicans alike – to stand up for fully permitted offshore wind projects and reject these unlawful attacks. [Click here to write your Congressional Representative.]
One year in, the Trump Administration has made its position clear. So have we: we’re not backing down.
The challenges and opportunities facing offshore energy will be explored in depth at the International Planning Forum (IPF) 2026, where NYLCV President Julie Tighe will join the panel “Playing the Long Game: Preparing for the Next Chapter of Offshore Energy.” This session will discuss how to navigate turbulence, strengthen supply chains, counter misinformation, and build durable support for offshore energy. Drawing on lessons from completed projects, the panel will highlight how offshore energy delivers real economic, environmental, and energy security benefits while preparing the industry for the next wave of development.
NYLCV is proud to be a strategic partner of IPF, hosted by Oceantic in New York City from February 9 to 12, 2026. The conference brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to exchange insights and explore actionable strategies for a sustainable energy future.
Registration is open now, and spots are limited: Register here. For more information on the agenda, speakers, and conference details, visit the IPF website.