Guarantee you that our natural gas development in Ohio had something to do with this.

 

And our state's lack of support for sustainable energy projects and programs. The feds instead gave this project a placeholder amount of $3 million (or up to $5 million) which is enough to, pardon the cliche, keep the pilot light on for a while.....

Also, I've never heard of LEEDCo before ... are they a startup?  Joint venture with more recognizable names (FirstEnergy, etc.)?  Or just a big player that I managed to miss hearing about until now? 

Joint venture by Cleveland Foundation and Cuyahoga, Lake, and Lorain Counties (and probably a few others too).

$2.8M awarded for lake wind farm

 

http://plaindealer.oh.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=1ff424ad4

Some recent updates. LEED co. hopes to have six turbines in operation by 2018. Says project very much alive.

 

http://www.windpowerengineering.com/construction/update-on-the-lake-erie-icebreaker-wind-project-clever-foundation-selected-for-6-turbines/

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/08/leedco_begins_taking_core_samp.html#incart_river

LEEDCo lands a third DOE grant to develop Lake Erie wind project

By John Funk, The Plain Dealer

on November 16, 2015 at 11:00 AM, updated November 16, 2015 at 6:33 PM

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Energy has not given up on Lake Erie-based wind turbines, the first freshwater-based turbines in the nation.

 

The Lake Erie Energy Development Corp., or LEEDCo, is in line for a $3.7 million research and development grant in March of 2016, U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur said Monday morning.

 

The DOE granted the company $3 million in 2014 and $4 million in 2012, both for R&D work.

 

"Lake Erie is the Saudi Arabia of wind," Kaptur said in an interview. "People don't realize the wind resource we have on the lake. And LEEDCo is playing a major resource and development role."

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/11/leedco_lands_a_third_doe_grant.html

Middle of the Lake is a lot easier on the birds, and way less messy.

It's starting to be slightly more practical to be considering wind power as a commercial-scale source.

 

I don't necessarily agree with this Atlantic article's slant on the climate talks, but the recap of the technological and tech-per-price trends over the last 5-10 years is worth taking a moment to think about:

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/12/how-solar-and-wind-got-so-cheap-so-fast/418257/

 

Wind turbines are getting to be a more mature technology and the price per installed MW for commercial installations has fallen a decent amount.  Fossil fuels are still the most economical for the moment, but that's also in part because fossil fuels themselves have gotten much cheaper in recent years.  If they'd continued on the upward trend of the mid-2000s, wind would be cost-competitive.  The intermittency issues still make them something of a challenge for baseload demands, but even that can be largely ameliorated with a smart grid and enough distributed generation.  The wind isn't always blowing in Cleveland (though in fairness, it certainly seems to be blowing most of the d@mn time there ... stick a turbine in between some of the taller buildings and you'd have enough to power a flux capacitor ... but I digress), but it's always blowing somewhere.

Norwegian wind company to build LEEDCo off-shore turbine project (photos)

By John Funk, The Plain Dealer

on December 07, 2015 at 8:00 AM, updated December 07, 2015 at 12:15 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Norwegian wind farm developer with experience in the North Sea will build the $120 million pilot wind farm planned for Lake Erie.

 

Fred.Olsen Renewables, the largest independent power producer in the United Kingdom and the fifth largest in Europe, has already partnered with the non-profit Lake Erie Energy Development Co., or LEEDCo.

 

MORE:

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/12/norwegian_wind_company_to_buil.html

It's starting to be slightly more practical to be considering wind power as a commercial-scale source.

 

I don't necessarily agree with this Atlantic article's slant on the climate talks, but the recap of the technological and tech-per-price trends over the last 5-10 years is worth taking a moment to think about:

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/12/how-solar-and-wind-got-so-cheap-so-fast/418257/

 

Wind turbines are getting to be a more mature technology and the price per installed MW for commercial installations has fallen a decent amount.  Fossil fuels are still the most economical for the moment, but that's also in part because fossil fuels themselves have gotten much cheaper in recent years.  If they'd continued on the upward trend of the mid-2000s, wind would be cost-competitive.  The intermittency issues still make them something of a challenge for baseload demands, but even that can be largely ameliorated with a smart grid and enough distributed generation.  The wind isn't always blowing in Cleveland (though in fairness, it certainly seems to be blowing most of the d@mn time there ... stick a turbine in between some of the taller buildings and you'd have enough to power a flux capacitor ... but I digress), but it's always blowing somewhere.

 

Unless we're talking about the bladeless versions, poor idea.  We already have enough bird mess downtown.

It's starting to be slightly more practical to be considering wind power as a commercial-scale source.

 

I don't necessarily agree with this Atlantic article's slant on the climate talks, but the recap of the technological and tech-per-price trends over the last 5-10 years is worth taking a moment to think about:

 

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/12/how-solar-and-wind-got-so-cheap-so-fast/418257/

 

Wind turbines are getting to be a more mature technology and the price per installed MW for commercial installations has fallen a decent amount.  Fossil fuels are still the most economical for the moment, but that's also in part because fossil fuels themselves have gotten much cheaper in recent years.  If they'd continued on the upward trend of the mid-2000s, wind would be cost-competitive.  The intermittency issues still make them something of a challenge for baseload demands, but even that can be largely ameliorated with a smart grid and enough distributed generation.  The wind isn't always blowing in Cleveland (though in fairness, it certainly seems to be blowing most of the d@mn time there ... stick a turbine in between some of the taller buildings and you'd have enough to power a flux capacitor ... but I digress), but it's always blowing somewhere.

 

Unless we're talking about the bladeless versions, poor idea.  We already have enough bird mess downtown.

 

You should always be carrying an umbrella in Cleveland anyway. :-P

 

(Except, of course, that the wind will turn it inside out in moments ...)

Lake Erie wind farm could blow away last vestiges of Cleveland Rust Belt rep: editorial

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/12/lake_erie_wind_farm_blows_away.html

nice story on NEO renewable energy...

 

http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20140911/cleveland-becomes-cleantech-leader-ohio-backtracks-renewable-energy

Well I think we got the big money this time, 40 mil. It's a go!

 

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2016/05/27/that-lake-erie-wind-farm-is-finally-going-to-happen

 

https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-helps-secure-up-to-50-million-in-federal-funds-to-advance-construction-of-offshore-wind-project-in-lake-erie

Could Giant Suction Cups Turn Lake Erie Into a Regional Energy Hub?

https://psmag.com/could-giant-suction-cups-turn-lake-erie-into-a-regional-energy-hub-dfaa1154b0a#.fh3rh9cyb

A bit off topic, but I had to go to ft Wayne, Indiana for work last week, and I took Rt 30 all the way.  I have never in my life seen the amount of wind farms like I saw on that trip.  Specifically the stretch from Lima to Van wert.  I actually stopped to take a few pics of it.  When they erected all of these, I'm not sure, but there has to be well over 1000 in a stretch of 10 miles or so.  And that's just that stretch.  The farms start around Upper Sandusky and go all the way to Ft Wayne.  Must be the wide open flat lands that attracted the investors.

 

We now are working on an energy line just north of Lima in Payne, Ohio that will run about 10 miles connecting and distributing power from a region of these wind farms.  Really cool to see.

^I think the first installation was complete in 2011 or so.  Van Wert and Paulding counties are really the wind power capitals of Ohio right now.

 

These turbines are near where I grew up and you wouldn't believe the opposition to them from farmers.  But of course when the company offers to lease a tiny bit of their farmland for 5x the typical annual yield they never say no.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Ohio

Uncle Sam wants your opinion on LEEDCo project

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/09/uncle_sam_wants_your_opinion_o.html

Here's what the the six 480' tall wind turbines will look like when installed 8 miles off Cleveland's #LakeErie shore #ProjectIcebreaker https://t.co/9gZ3jhqnN2

 

 

 

And even with those images where it's challenging to even find them in the distance you know people are going to be all up in arms about it "ruining the view."

 

I personally love the look of wind farms out on the water and hope this expands to be a massive wind farm over time.

I think Cleveland could take a real leadership role in urban green energy production given the wind assets that exist on the lake.  Even if overall energy output isn't entirely significant from this wind farm, the optics are really great, IMO. I remember noticing a lot of recycling cans downtown in my visit last summer, and I love the "green city on a blue lake" brand that the city has been working with.

How about a zip line from Key Tower to the wind turbines?  :-P

^10/10 would support.

 

Slope halfway down on the way out. Observation deck at 480' high to take in the view. Glide the rest of the way back when you're ready.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SCOPING

LEEDCo Project Icebreaker - Cleveland, Ohio

 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) are requesting public input on the scope of an Environmental Assessment for Project Icebreaker.

 

Doe is proposing to authorize the expenditure of federal funding to design, permit, construct and decommission a wind demonstration project consisting of six turbines in Lake Erie approximately eight miles off Cleveland, Ohio. USACE anticipates receiving a permit application for the proposed project. USCG is responsible for reviewing impacts related to navigation and the USCG mission. An Environmental Assessment will be prepared by the Federal agencies pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

You are invited to submit written comments on the NEPA process, proposed action and alternatives, and environmental issues to be reviewed.

Additional information is available at:

www.energy.gov/node/2001046

 

Please direct any written questions or comments by October 21, 2016 to:

 

U.S. DOE, Golden Field Office, NEPA Division

15013 Denver West Parkway

Golden, Colorado 80401

 

Or by email to: [email protected]

 

Supporting Document:

"DOE Environmental Assessment Public Scoping Process for Project Icebreaker"

And even with those images where it's challenging to even find them in the distance you know people are going to be all up in arms about it "ruining the view."

 

I personally love the look of wind farms out on the water and hope this expands to be a massive wind farm over time.

 

Perhaps they could include funding for public art on them, both in painting and lights for nighttime distant viewing?  The Goodtime and Nautica Queen could add them to their itineraries to go and see the art close-up.

How far out do the Goodtime and Nautica Queen go? 8 miles seems pretty far away to be a part of that experience but I've never been on them so I'm not sure.

 

Lighting them up at night would be fantastic. I can guarantee that would be poo pooed though in a heartbeat.

 

Edit: And on second thought, I'm not sure it's needed to be lit up at night. One of the most stunning things I've ever seen is driving through the massive wind farm between Indy and Chicago at night. All the red aircraft warning beacons are timed so they flash together and it's mesmerizing. This sea of red dots in sync with one another. That would be amazing to see out on the lake.

Im personally not in favor of any light features, other than the minimum that is required for air trafic of course. No need to contibute to light pollution. And I for one enjoy and am humbled by what seems like the endless darkness to the north out over the lake.

 

http://thisbigcity.net/four-ways-to-reduce-light-pollution-in-cities/

LEEDCo's Icebreaker seeking local contractors and suppliers, to hold open house this week

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/12/leedcos_icebreaker_seeking_loc.html

Some national love....

 

Many in US Look to Cities to Cut Emissions, Fight Climate Change

http://www.voanews.com/a/many-look-cities-reduce-emissions-fight-climate-changes/3654526.html

Will Lake Erie Be Home to the First Wind Farm in the Great Lakes?

 

By Susan Cosier

 

The winds whipping across Lake Erie can average up to 16 miles per hour. And about 7 to 10 miles northwest of Cleveland, there's a pilot project in the works to capture them. The offshore wind farm would be the second in the nation and the first ever in a Great Lake.

 

The offshore wind industry is already expanding on the northeastern seaboard, but a freshwater wind farm would face different conditions than those in the salty seas of the Atlantic—the biggest one being ice. Lake Erie, the most shallow of the Great Lakes, usually freezes during winter, so a turbine would have to withstand huge chunks of ice crashing into its pole. That hasn't stopped LEEDCo, the renewable energy company proposing the project, from pushing ahead. Earlier this month, it submitted its permit application for the project, dubbed Icebreaker Wind.

 

If the regulatory agencies—including the Ohio Power Siting Board, the state department of natural resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coast Guard—give the thumbs up, the towers could go up as early as next year.

 

MORE:

http://www.ecowatch.com/icebreaker-wind-farm-2276466791.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=4e38100793-MailChimp+Email+Blast&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-4e38100793-85344653

 

Will Lake Erie Be Home to the First Wind Farm in the Great Lakes?

 

By Susan Cosier

 

The winds whipping across Lake Erie can average up to 16 miles per hour. And about 7 to 10 miles northwest of Cleveland, there's a pilot project in the works to capture them. The offshore wind farm would be the second in the nation and the first ever in a Great Lake.

 

The offshore wind industry is already expanding on the northeastern seaboard, but a freshwater wind farm would face different conditions than those in the salty seas of the Atlantic—the biggest one being ice. Lake Erie, the most shallow of the Great Lakes, usually freezes during winter, so a turbine would have to withstand huge chunks of ice crashing into its pole. That hasn't stopped LEEDCo, the renewable energy company proposing the project, from pushing ahead. Earlier this month, it submitted its permit application for the project, dubbed Icebreaker Wind.

 

If the regulatory agencies—including the Ohio Power Siting Board, the state department of natural resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coast Guard—give the thumbs up, the towers could go up as early as next year.

 

MORE:

http://www.ecowatch.com/icebreaker-wind-farm-2276466791.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=4e38100793-MailChimp+Email+Blast&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-4e38100793-85344653

 

 

The ice should be a solvable engineering issue, but is there any reason not to collect wave generated energy simultanously, piggybacking it onto the transmission lines?

Will Lake Erie Be Home to the First Wind Farm in the Great Lakes?

 

By Susan Cosier

 

The winds whipping across Lake Erie can average up to 16 miles per hour. And about 7 to 10 miles northwest of Cleveland, there's a pilot project in the works to capture them. The offshore wind farm would be the second in the nation and the first ever in a Great Lake.

 

The offshore wind industry is already expanding on the northeastern seaboard, but a freshwater wind farm would face different conditions than those in the salty seas of the Atlantic—the biggest one being ice. Lake Erie, the most shallow of the Great Lakes, usually freezes during winter, so a turbine would have to withstand huge chunks of ice crashing into its pole. That hasn't stopped LEEDCo, the renewable energy company proposing the project, from pushing ahead. Earlier this month, it submitted its permit application for the project, dubbed Icebreaker Wind.

 

If the regulatory agencies—including the Ohio Power Siting Board, the state department of natural resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Coast Guard—give the thumbs up, the towers could go up as early as next year.

 

MORE:

http://www.ecowatch.com/icebreaker-wind-farm-2276466791.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=4e38100793-MailChimp+Email+Blast&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-4e38100793-85344653

 

 

It's frustrating that since 2004 when this was originally discussed, not a single wind turbine has been built in Lake Erie.  I know, I know... funding.

It's frustrating that since 2004 when this was originally discussed, not a single wind turbine has been built in Lake Erie.  I know, I know... funding.

 

Meanwhile in other parts of the world....

 

 

 

The ice should be a solvable engineering issue, but is there any reason not to collect wave generated energy simultanously, piggybacking it onto the transmission lines?

 

I doubt the wave power in Lake Erie is consistent enough in power or direction to really be worth the effort.  This map seems to prove that point:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_power#/media/File:World_wave_energy_resource_map.png

The ice should be a solvable engineering issue, but is there any reason not to collect wave generated energy simultanously, piggybacking it onto the transmission lines?

 

I doubt the wave power in Lake Erie is consistent enough in power or direction to really be worth the effort.  This map seems to prove that point:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_power#/media/File:World_wave_energy_resource_map.png

 

Wind energy is very inconsistent as well.  That's the problem with it for high energy density applications.

 

^Absolutely true, but that can be countered with a system of a large number of turbines with good geographic diversity.  It's also already being proven that wind power generation can be consistently forecast in these large systems making them usable as base load generators.  Germany seems to be spearheading these efforts and has had some success.  If you can accurately forecast power generation from wind it may allow you to shut down some fossil fuel burning plants for a time.

I'm genuinely curious about this, why the fascination with offshore specifically?  Not just in Ohio but globally?  Is it because the wind is more reliable offshore?  Or just land use and permitting headaches onshore?  We're not exactly land-poor onshore even in Ohio, and in places like Texas and much of the Great Plains and Southwest, they've got tons of land with tons of reasonably reliable wind.

I'm genuinely curious about this, why the fascination with offshore specifically?  Not just in Ohio but globally?  Is it because the wind is more reliable offshore?  Or just land use and permitting headaches onshore?  We're not exactly land-poor onshore even in Ohio, and in places like Texas and much of the Great Plains and Southwest, they've got tons of land with tons of reasonably reliable wind.

 

Reliable wind from any direction.

^^As I understand it there are several basic benefits to offshore wind.  Two of them you have already mentioned.  The wind is more reliable offshore and you avoid difficult zoning (height) and permitting headaches, although there are other NIMBY related headaches that come along with offshore.  Another benefit is that the power generating wind turbines can be placed much closer to population centers offshore than they typically could be on land because of the huge number of people that live on the coasts.  A wind farm in Iowa might be 100 miles away from the nearest major population center compared to offshore wind turbines which could be placed 10 miles away from Manhattan, for example.  So the reduced transmission costs might make up for the added expense of offshore construction.

 

With that said, obviously places like Texas have little use for offshore wind.  This is really meant for areas of the country where land is scarce and/or expensive and the wind is unreliable.

I'm genuinely curious about this, why the fascination with offshore specifically?  Not just in Ohio but globally?  Is it because the wind is more reliable offshore?  Or just land use and permitting headaches onshore?  We're not exactly land-poor onshore even in Ohio, and in places like Texas and much of the Great Plains and Southwest, they've got tons of land with tons of reasonably reliable wind.

 

I thinks it's because so much potential lies off shore. You can see on the map that the greatest wind resource is by far the coastal areas.

Also, the Ohio legislature enacted fairly strict setback requirements a couple years ago that make land-based turbines relatively difficult to site. No doubt somewhat hyperbolic, but Amazon described them as "an effective moratorium of sorts on new wind development."

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2016/05/19/amazon-wind.html

 

[typo]

I'm genuinely curious about this, why the fascination with offshore specifically?  Not just in Ohio but globally?  Is it because the wind is more reliable offshore?  Or just land use and permitting headaches onshore?  We're not exactly land-poor onshore even in Ohio, and in places like Texas and much of the Great Plains and Southwest, they've got tons of land with tons of reasonably reliable wind.

 

Wind turbines can be a little rough on birds, to say the least.  There aren't as many out away from the shoreline, and the mess isn't an additional issue.

^Yeah, wind turbines do pose a risk to birds and will kill some, potentially millions per year.  But the risk isn't unique to turbines and is mostly caused by the tower itself and not so much the spinning blades.  So the risk is really on par with any communication tower or large building. 

 

Modern large turbines spin at relatively slow speeds so the risk of bird death due to impact with a blade is limited to the last 1/3 or so of the blade (near the tip) which passes through any given point in space less frequently than the smaller blades of the past.  The belief that wind turbines are bird blenders started because the old, small turbines at Altamont Pass do kill thousands of birds per year, but the new turbines are much better and kill far fewer birds.  While mitigation efforts are warranted, especially for certain migratory bird paths, it is certainly no reason to curtail wind energy development in my opinion. 

non-flashing tower lights may increase risk to birds..

 

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/24/510811662/how-to-make-broadcast-towers-more-bird-friendly-turn-off-some-lights

non-flashing tower lights may increase risk to birds..

 

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/24/510811662/how-to-make-broadcast-towers-more-bird-friendly-turn-off-some-lights

 

Terminal Tower turns off the colors between midnignt or so and 4am for this reason.

interesting -- from the city website i saw bg's wind farm debt was all paid off early:

 

 

WIND TURBINES

 

Bowling Green is home to Ohio’s first utility-sized wind farm. There are four turbines that are 257 feet tall. These turbines are as tall as a 30-story building and generate up to 7.2 megawatts of power — enough to supply electricity for approximately 2,500 residential customers. Located about six miles from the city, the turbines can be seen for miles and have become a local attraction.

 

Debt on the wind turbine project was paid in full in 2015.  This is a tremendous accomplishment as the debt was paid off several years early and the project is now one of the City’s lowest energy resources.

 

 

... the project is now one of the City’s lowest energy resources.

 

Word missing?  :?

You know what's infinitely worse for birds than wind turbines in the Great Lakes? Fossil fuels and climate change. https://t.co/22zF7qcEYH

 

Just a reminder that coal kills at least 24x more birds than wind turbines https://t.co/nQFpLuwgz6

Spliethoff is bringing the heavy lift ship Happy River into Cleveland April 25th, the day after the arrival of their regular liner service ship. I wonder if Happy River will be carrying wind turbine components. The caissons look massive.

Draft environmental report for Lake Erie offshore wind project is promising

WRITTEN BY

Kathiann M. Kowalski

September 11, 2017

 

A draft Department of Energy report shows mainly minor or negligible short-term impacts from a plan to construct and operate six wind turbines approximately eight miles offshore of Cleveland.

 

“Having a draft environmental assessment the public can comment on is a huge milestone,” said Lorry Wagner, president of LEEDCo, the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation, at an informational open house in Lakewood, Ohio, on September 6. The report’s review of potential environmental impacts is a requirement under the National Environmental Policy Act.

 

“The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) presents a detailed analysis of the potential impacts of the proposed demonstration offshore wind project,” explained Roak Parker of DOE’s NEPA office. Feedback from the public and other state and federal agencies on the draft “will make the final EA more robust,” Parker added, although he declined to speculate on that outcome before review of the comments.

 

MORE:

https://midwestenergynews.com/2017/09/11/draft-environmental-report-for-lake-erie-wind-project-is-promising/

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

 

A Public Notice has been issued for Department of the Army Project Number 2010-00223 for Icebreaker Windpower, Incorporated (aka Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation).  You can view the public notice as well as the accompanying documentation at our website at the following URL:  http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Public-Notices/

 

 

June Lathrop

Administrative Support

US Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District Regulatory Auburn Field Office

7413 Count House Road

Auburn, NY 13021

716-879-6327

[email protected]