Atlantic County Times

Congressman Van Drew has announced a decision compelling the Empire Wind project to cease construction. This follows his involvement with the Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Justice.

"I have worked closely with these federal agencies to expose the problems with this project, and now they are taking action," noted Congressman Van Drew. He emphasized that a lack of thorough analysis and insufficient coordination during the approval process necessitated this intervention. "This order is a direct result of the project being rushed through the approval process without proper analysis or coordination with the appropriate agencies, particularly regarding its potential impacts." Van Drew expressed concerns over the last administration's approval pace, saying, "I have said from the beginning that these projects were being pushed through too fast and without proper oversight, and now the evidence is undeniable."

Van Drew highlighted his role in shaping an executive order under President Trump to pause such projects pending a complete evaluation of their implications. "I was proud to help craft President Trump's day-one executive order to pause these projects and fully examine their impacts, and now we are ensuring that authority is respected. This order is a significant step in not only stopping this project but also others just like it that were recklessly approved by the previous administration," he concluded.