Offshore Wind Farm to Position Ohio, Cleveland as Global Renewable Energy Leaders

Columbus, OH – In his last official act as governor, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today signed an Option-to-Lease contract between the State of Ohio and the Lake Erie Energy Development Company (LEEDCo), a major step toward the construction of the world’s first freshwater wind farm in Lake Erie. The contract further positions Cleveland and the State of Ohio as global leaders in advanced energy industry job creation and in the production and distribution of renewable energy.

The agreement between the State of Ohio, LEEDCo, and Freshwater Wind I, LLC, was signed, on behalf of the state by, Governor Strickland, Attorney General Richard Cordray, and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Sean Logan. The legally binding contract gives LEEDCo and Freshwater Wind the exclusive right to pursue a submerged lands lease for a designated area in Ohio’s portion of Lake Erie.

If performance metrics are met within the timeline established in the contract, Ohio will be home to the first freshwater wind farm in the world.

“This agreement advances the project to build the first freshwater offshore wind farm in the world and emphasizes Cleveland’s role as an international hub of renewable energy,” Strickland said. “This project builds on the strengths of Ohio’s manufacturing and maritime industries, our incredible natural resources, and our advanced research capacities, and puts Northeast Ohio on the cusp of creating thousands of jobs in the growing wind energy industry. We can develop Lake Erie’s wind resources and grow our economy, while protecting the lake’s value as a vast natural resource. I am very proud of the partnership we’ve developed with local and civic leaders to help us reach this point, and I strongly encourage the state to continue this collaborative effort.”

The area covered by the Option-to-Lease agreement consists of nine grid cells totaling approximately 5,706 acres and is located approximately six miles due north of the city of Lakewood (Lakewood Park area). Ohio’s first option to lease Lake Erie submerged lands for production of wind generated electricity allows a pilot project to explore the potential of offshore wind in Lake Erie. LEEDCo and Freshwater Wind expect to install five wind turbines at the proposed site beginning late 2012 in an initial project expected to produce approximately 20 megawatts of electric generating capacity. According to estimates by NorTech, the initial project is estimated to create and sustain more than 600 jobs.

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