Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo)

12/13/2023

Icebreaker’s backers haven’t formally declared the project dead, but they’re returning the unspent part of the project’s federal grant to the Department of Energy and suspending all work. It didn’t need to have been that way, but in a state that puts favors for legacy energy companies ahea...

12/08/2023

A MESSAGE FROM LEEDCo

Dear Icebreaker Supporters,

We wanted to share with you an important update regarding Icebreaker Wind. Despite our collective efforts and the unwavering support from incredible community partners, Icebreaker Wind has encountered numerous challenges and unexpected delays.

After careful consideration, we believe that the most responsible decision, given the circumstances, is to temporarily pause the project. We want to express our immense gratitude for the invaluable collaboration we've shared over the years. Your support brought us incredibly close to our goal.

Challenges that we have faced, including those we overcame, have made the project financially untenable in the immediate future. However, please know the LEEDCo board is exploring various avenues that might pave the way for the project to progress at a later stage.

Greg Nemet, a respected energy policy expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently highlighted the challenges facing offshore wind projects on the Great Lakes. He acknowledged LEEDCo's forward-thinking approach by stating, "They were really ahead of their time. It’s high risk, but just because it’s high risk doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea… You can learn from success, but you can also learn from failure."

We are not ready to concede, and we strongly agree that our efforts were not in vain. Our extensive research into the environmental sustainability of offshore wind has laid a solid foundation for future projects. Equally important, we've ignited meaningful community conversations about the potential of offshore wind and the crucial role of renewable energy in our future.

Thank you again for your support and partnership. We will continue to keep you updated on any developments regarding Icebreaker Wind.

Sincerely,
Ronn Richard, LEEDCo Board Chair
Will Friedman, LEEDCo Board Member, Port of Cleveland President & CEO

06/22/2023

Offshore wind is benefitting STEM programs for New York State students, a good example of how these developments can be a source of learning. Would be great to see that happen here in Northeast Ohio.

Key HighlightsCommunity Offshore Wind creates over 10 new partnerships increasing youth access to STEM education to foster future careers in the renewable energy...

06/07/2023

An offshore wind boom is underway in the U.S., with 16 projects — including Icebreaker Wind — poised to be under construction or completed by 2028.

More than 17 GW of offshore wind capacity is under construction in the Atlantic, while lease sales are expanding to new waters as the sector works to meet federal and state goals.

05/25/2023

New Bedford, MA, is looking to reinvent itself as a linchpin for the commercial wind industry in the U.S. This is a significant economic opportunity for community members. LEEDCo would like to see similar opportunities here in Northeast Ohio with the Icebreaker Wind project.

Once assembled out on the water this summer by developer Vineyard Wind, the turbines will stand more than 850 feet high.

05/17/2023

A must read! Chicago leaders joining together in getting their proposed offshore wind project moving. Proponents say that being an early leader is critical for Illinois. They described the current situation on the Great Lakes as “a race between adjacent states to get the federal infrastructure investments and the jobs the offshore wind industry will bring.”

The project has earned praise from the Chicago chamber of commerce. “This pilot program will not only result in hundreds of millions of dollars in economic growth, but it will also provide new, high-growth jobs with a focus on equity across every neighborhood in Chicagoland,” chamber head Jack Lavin said.

The Port of Cleveland

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – A coalition of Democratic politicians, labor unions and environmental groups is advocating for a plan that would put an offshore wind farm off the coast of Lake Michigan on Chicago’s South Side. Lawmakers are currentl...

05/15/2023

Want to learn more about the power and future of offshore wind? American Clean Power is a terrific resource.

Offshore wind is America’s next major energy source, representing a generational opportunity to create jobs and bolster the economy.

05/09/2023

Will Friedman, CEO and president of the Port of Cleveland, writes about how the port can be an important hub for development of wind, solar and other new sources of energy, and the importance of Icebreaker Wind.

Fresh water sets Cleveland apart from cities we are competing with globally for jobs, writes the CEO of the Port of Cleveland; other cities would love to have our lake or our riverfront.

05/02/2023

“We’re here to celebrate all the jobs that have been created by the green economy and offshore wind,” said Jim Hunt, executive vice president at Eversource Energy.

04/13/2023

"Maryland isn’t waiting for future energy crunches to take action. We thank our House and Senate colleagues, the Moore-Miller administration and the legislation’s many advocates for working with us to secure a clean energy supply that will prepare Maryland’s economy for the future."

Passage of the POWER Act will help the state make the transition to sustainable, renewable energy in the years ahead.

03/28/2023

Bill to OK windmills in Lake Michigan gains major steam in Springfield

A bill to authorize a pilot wind farm in Lake Michigan just off of the south shore has resurfaced in Springfield and has picked up major political momentum.

A pilot wind farm in Lake Michigan could cost electric rate payers $680 million in subsidies over the next 20 years.