20 MW fresh-water wind project in US Great Lakes passes environmental review

The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) has announced that the federal review of the proposed Icebreaker Lake Erie wind energy project has found no significant environmental impacts of the project.

The U.S. Department of Energy conducted the review for project in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal entities for over two years. The agencies released the final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on 2 October 2018.

The project involves the installation of six wind turbines on Lake Erie, around 13km from the coast of downtown Cleveland. It would be the first fresh-water wind energy installation in North America and the first offshore wind project in the Great Lakes region. Cleveland-based LEEDCo is developing Icebreaker Wind with Fred. Olsen Renewables USA.

The federal report represents an important milestone for the project, which has undergone numerous, intensive local, state and federal governmental reviews. Despite the support of public authorities and a number of environmental groups, the project is being actively opposed by a large coal company at the state level.