USA: Ohio Third Frontier Commission Declines Funding LEEDCo

Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) was declined a USD 5 million worth funds for Lake Erie offshore wind farm proposal.

Even though the Ohio Department of Development suggested they grant the money, the Third Frontier Commission did not vote in favour, the Crain’s Cleveland news portal informs.

The federal Department of Energy will award a much bigger amount (up to USD 50 million) to organizations which are working on the wind farm development, and the state fund would have brought LEEDCo a step closer to it. Some of the commission members doubted LEEDCo could be among the three final groups to get federal money, so they stated their reservations about the project.

Furthermore, a few members consider offshore wind industry to be facing high construction and power cost challenges.

LEEDCo would have used a large amount to fund a research about reducing the cost of offshore wind farm construction in Lake Erie. It is working under the company Freshwater LLC, which is a group of private developers that recently moved to a plan of using a larger number of smaller Siemens turbines.

The turbines generate more power when combined, and their installation is supposed to cost less.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, May 25, 2012; Image: Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force