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Ohio seeks 20MW offshore wind farm in Lake Erie

Waters off Cleveland could host one of the world's first fresh water offshore wind farms under a plan unveiled this week

The State of Ohio is seeking an offshore wind developer to assist with a proposed 20-megawatt, $100 million offshore wind demonstration project in Lake Erie.

The state’s newly-formed Lake Erie Energy Development Corp (LEEDCo) issued a Request for Proposals on Monday, seeking a partner to help kick-start Ohio’s offshore wind industry with the pilot wind farm.

LEEDCo, which is the culmination of four years’ preparations by the state’s Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force wants to develop Ohio’s first offshore wind farm in an area near downtown Cleveland.

The Request for Proposals follows on from a 2009 feasibility study carried out by consultants at Juwi into a possible 20MW offshore wind farm in the area.

Richard Stuebi, who is interim president of LEEDCo during its launch phase, said: “It is LEEDCo’s goal to build off of this work and bring more focused resources to the pursuit of offshore wind in Lake Erie, so that we can convert our currently favorable position into true industry leadership – and more importantly, increased economic activity and jobs in Ohio.”

Developers have 90 days to respond to the RFP.

Preparations

Believing that thousands of jobs could be created in offshore wind developments and ancillary support services, Ohio has been pushing forward with preparations to help potential wind developments.

The state, which has 312 miles of shoreline around Lake Erie, has mapped out the territory into color-coded square-miles in order to identify the best places for wind turbines.

Information about the lake bed is being added to this central map.

The state is working on offshore wind preparations with Case Western Reserve University, which has been designated as an Ohio Center of Excellence for advanced energy.

Ohio officials are also reviewing state laws and regulations to establish the necessary controls to open up Lake Erie to wind development and develop incentives to attract offshore wind developers.

Offshore Wind Bill

Monday’s Request for Proposals was issued as officials gathered with the state’s US Senator, Sherrod Brown, who was highlighting his new offshore wind Bill introduced this month to Congress.

The Senator is one of the co-sponsors of the Carper-Snowe-Brown-Collins Offshore Wind Bill, which is seeking more federal support for offshore wind developments (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

Among S3062’s provisions are requirements for the US Department to map out a development plan for offshore wind capacity around the country, and for offshore wind projects to be given financial support under a proposed national Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Wind energy will lower costs and reduce dependence on foreign oil, creating new demand for components produced by Ohio’s supply chain” - Senator Sherrod Brown

Sen Brown said on Monday that his home state was ready to host offshore wind projects in Lake Erie, which he said offered shallow waters and nearby market demand for power.

Offshore wind development in Lake Erie would also offer manufacturing and servicing jobs for Ohio, he said.

The Senator said: “With the right priorities in Washington, Columbus, and Cuyahoga County, we will not only make this project a reality, but we’ll also revitalize Ohio’s manufacturing base and create new jobs.

“Wind energy will not only lower costs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but will also create new demand for components produced by Ohio’s supply chain.”

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland applauded Sen Brown’s Bill, adding: “Ohio can build the installation vessels needed in all the Great Lakes; Ohio can build the towers; Ohio can build the turbines and the blades; Ohio can build all the component parts.”