Representing a major step forward for the proposed offshore demonstration project, the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has found that Icebreaker Windpower Inc.’s application for a permit to construct North America’s first freshwater offshore wind project is now in compliance and is ready to be processed.
According to Icebreaker Wind, the OPSB will issue a public notice, and review of the application will continue. The six-turbine, 20.7 MW demonstration project is proposed eight to 10 miles off the shore of Cleveland. Icebreaker says the project would create nearly 500 jobs and provide power for approximately 7,000 homes.
Icebreaker says OSPB’s completeness determination followed the developer’s submission of two memoranda of understanding with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources regarding monitoring protocols to determine any project impacts on fisheries, aquatic resources, and birds and bats.
“The OPSB’s determination today that our application is now complete is a major step forward in the state permitting process,” states Dr. Lorry Wagner, president of project developer Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo). “We are confident that our application demonstrates conclusively that our offshore wind demonstration project will not only have minimal adverse impact on fish and wildlife but will also create jobs, boost the local and regional economy, and provide a local source of clean energy.”
