Yesterday, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of Icebreaker Wind.
In a 6-1 decision, the Court ruled that the state permit was correctly granted, allowing the project to move forward. The challenge, brought by two Bratenahl residents, was the last legal hurdle to the development of the first fresh water, off shore wind turbine installation in North America.
Green Energy Ohio has a long history with offshore wind generation in Lake Erie.
In 2004, Green Energy Ohio received a grant from The Cleveland Foundation for wind monitoring equipment, followed by additional investment from the George Gund Foundation and the Steffee Foundation. The City of Cleveland provided support to assist with equipment installation and Cuyahoga County supplied funding for data analysis. The next year, GEO led a coalition to install a 50-meter meteorological tower on the Cleveland Crib, the main intake for Cleveland’s municipal water intake supply, located 3 miles off the Lake Erie shore. Data collected from the study demonstrated that the location was a strong Class 4 wind site and served as a basis for continued off-shore wind research and development. For more information, visit the GEO Archives.
Thirteen years of planning and development.
In 2009, the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) began planning for the installation of a 6-turbine demonstration wind farm generating 21.7 megawatts located 8-10 miles off the coast of Cleveland in Lake Erie. In the intervening years, LEEDCo obtained approval from over a dozen local, state, and federal agencies that investigated every aspect of the project from concept and design through construction, operation, and decommissioning. In addition to presentations at more than 400 public meetings and hearings, extensive lists of resources, project highlights, and FAQ documents were made available to the public and to decision-makers. Final Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) action took place in 2020.
GEO actively supported Icebreaker Wind at every stage.
GEO submitted statements of support throughout the process and worked with other organizations to educate and engage Ohioans on the project, communicating through social media and co-hosting online information sessions. Visit the GEO website to find GEO's letters and testimony in favor of Icebreaker Wind.
