Statement on Empire Wind 1 Project Pause

Press Statement
Cambridge, MA

As President of the American Offshore Wind Academy (AOWA), I express deep concern and strong opposition to the recent decision to halt construction activities on the Empire Wind I project—one of the most advanced, fully permitted offshore wind developments in the United States.

This abrupt reversal of course not only jeopardizes years of work, billions of dollars in investment, and thousands of jobs—it undermines the very integrity of the U.S. regulatory process. If projects that have cleared every legal, environmental, and community hurdle can still be brought to a halt by political fiat, what message are we sending to the global investment community? That the United States cannot be trusted as a serious, stable place to do business?

We are in the middle of a critical energy transition. The demand for clean, resilient, domestic energy has never been higher. Offshore wind is not just about electrons on the grid; it’s about rebuilding industrial capacity, creating good-paying jobs, and protecting our planet for future generations.

This is not the time to play politics with energy. We must be reminded why we are in this business in the first place: to deliver sustainable power, economic opportunity, and national security through clean energy leadership.

At AOWA, we remain committed to preparing the workforce to build this industry. But we call on federal leadership to match that commitment with consistency, courage, and clarity.

Serene Hamsho
President, American Offshore Wind Academy (AOWA)