Fred Olsen Renewables and LEEDCo’s 21MW Icebreaker offshore wind farm on Lake Erie in the US has had a construction permit approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The approval by the Army Corps, which administers and enforces provisions of the Rivers and Harbors Act and the Clean Water Act, follows a two-year review.
Icebreaker has already received approvals and permits from over a dozen local, state and federal agencies that have responsibility for environmental protection, but still requires the go-ahead from the US state of Ohio.
If approved, construction could start in 2021, LEEDCo said.
LEEDCo president Lorry Wagner said: “The issuance of the permit represents a big step forward for this thoroughly reviewed project.
“It would put Cleveland on the international map as being a progressive leader in clean energy and it would lead to Ohio becoming a participant in the booming $50bn US offshore wind industry.
“This project represents the first step toward realising the substantial potential of making our region a national hub for wind energy.”