Aired February 9, 2007

Cleveland is one step closer to becoming the home of what could be the world's first ever fresh water wind farm. The Cuyahoga County Commissioners plan is to spend around $1 million in the next six months to fully study the idea of generating electricity through wind turbines three miles out on Lake Erie. ideastream's Lisa Ann Pinkerton reports.

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Last July, the Cuyahoga County Commissioners formed an Energy Task force to promote advanced energy and related economic development in Northeast Ohio. Its first job was to explore whether the strong winds on Lake Erie could feasible be used to generate electricity. Their report, released yesterday, clears a path for a more detailed study to come. Task Force Chairman Bill Mason, who is also the County Prosecutor, says the next step in this ambitious plan is to search the globe for the best person to spearhead a full environmental and technology study.

Bill Mason: We're going to ask this project manager to look at the feasibility, study the ecology, all the issues that are faced with putting something out on the lake. And come back to us in six or seven months and tell us where there are some impediments we haven't seen or if this is a go and give us a road map to how to finance it and how to put it together.

Wind traveling over Lake Erie is roughly twice as strong as wind once it reaches land. So conceivably, off-shore wind turbines could produce twice as much electricity. But if Europe's efforts are any indication, they'll also cost twice as much. Mark Shannahan, Energy Advisor to Governor Strickland says European off-shore projects have shown this, but this Lake Erie project is charting new territory.

Mark Shannahan: We have to remember this is unique this is a fresh water deployment of wind power, that hasn't been done in North America so the Issues are going to be different.

Shannahan says public opposition could be another hurdle for the project. In New England, the Cape Cod Wind Project is currently struggling through its permitting process, mainly because critics think the off-shore turbines could ruin the natural vistas. Taskforce Chairman Mason says the group is watching these projects closely for lessons Northeast Ohio can learn from.

Bill Mason: We're aware of those issues that each project brings with it, and we're going to tackle it one at a time. And the first way to tackle those issues is to get a proper study funded and researched.

The Cuyahoga County Commissioners have big dreams for this project. They see it as a catalyst that could bring wind industry development and manufacturing jobs to Ohio on a large scale. And it's getting some help from the state as well. Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher says Ohio is making $5 million in grants available to large and individual wind developers to establish wind farms in Ohio.

Lee Fisher: Incentives will be paid at a rate of one cent per kilowatt hour generated. And an additional incentive of two cents per kilowatt hour generated will be offered for projects that use Ohio manufactured wind turbines.

Since there aren't any Ohio made turbines yet, Fisher says if a turbine has even a few Ohio made components developers will be eligible for grant funding equal to a full three cents on each kilowatt produced.

Lee Fisher: Even this might be modest in the context of what needs to be done but it's a step in the right direction.

The task Force would like to see 10 turbines spinning wind into electricity five years from now on lake Erie. Its feasibility study could conclude as soon as July. Lisa Ann Pinkerton, 90.3.