The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has found that Icebreaker Windpower Inc.’s application for a permit to construct the 20.7MW Icebreaker wind farm in Lake Erie off Cleveland is now in compliance and ready to be processed.
Icebreaker Windpower is proposing to construct a wind farm which would consist of six MHI Vestas V126-3.45 MW wind turbine generators installed on mono bucket foundations some 8-10 miles off the Cleveland coastline, along with submerged electric collection cables, and a facility substation.
Back in April, OPSB ruled that Icebreaker Windpower’s application was not in compliance with certain chapters of the Ohio Administrative Code.
Namely, in the application, Icebreaker Windpower referred to two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) which were at the time being developed with relevant resource agencies, OPSB said.
The MoUs were investigating the project’s impact on fisheries and other aquatic resources, as well as the impact on local populations of birds and bats.
OPSB said it would review the application again once the applicant submits the copies of the two MoUs in question, signed at least by the applicant and the Ohio Department of Natural resources.
The completeness determination by OSPB followed the submission of the two MoUs with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The OPSB will next issue a public notice and the review of the application will continue.
The original developer of the Icebreaker Wind project was the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo). In 2016, LEEDCo partnered with Fred. Olsen Renewables (FOR) of Norway. FOR has established FORUSA and Icebreaker Windpower to be the owner, developer, and operator of Icebreaker Wind.
“The OPSB’s determination today that our application is now complete is a major step forward in the state permitting process,” said Dr. Lorry Wagner , President of LEEDCo.
“We are confident that our application demonstrates conclusively that our offshore wind demonstration project will not only have minimal adverse impact on fish and wildlife but will also create jobs, boost the local and regional economy, and provide a local source of clean energy.”
The project is expected to enter the construction phase in May 2018 and be completed by October 2018. The wind farm is scheduled to be commissioned by November 2018.