Offshore Wind Wire

An Ohio task force will issue a request for proposals January 21 for environmental studies on a proposed Lake Erie offshore wind project.

The Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force, part of the Cuyahoga County government, aims to have regulatory issues resolved by the end of 2010 and a project built by 2013, according to Steven Dever, executive director of the task force.  The wind farm is designed to be a pilot project with a capacity of 5-20 megawatts.  It is planned for the waters of Cuyahoga County, near Cleveland.

“Our goal is to have a permit-ready site by the end of this year,” Dever said.

Several groups are developing plans for offshore wind on the Great Lakes.  Last month, Scandia Wind Offshore LLC held public meetings to discuss their proposal for a 1,000 MW offshore wind farm on Lake Michigan.  New York state officials are seeking a developer to build as much as 500 MW of capacity on Lake Erie or Lake Ontario.

The Cleveland project must obtain permission and a submerged land lease from the Ohio Power Siting Board and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, according to Dever.  Last year, the task force received the results of a feasibility study that estimated the cost of the pilot project between $77 and $92 million.

The feasibility study also examined interconnection issues, the available wind resource, cable design and environmental impact but described all of the results as preliminary.  The report was positive enough, however, to move the project forward.

Dever said the plan has received “great community support” because of the potential for economic development.