Fred Olsen Renewables and LEEDCo’s 21MW Icebreaker offshore wind farm on Lake Erie in the US will have no significant environmental impacts, according to a federal review.
The environmental assessment was conducted by the Department of Energy, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard and other federal bodies. It said: “The proposed project will not significantly adversely affect any endangered or threatened species or any critical habitat.”
It also found that Icebreaker would not significantly affect migratory birds. “There would be no potential for population-level impacts to any species of bird as a result of the proposed project,” the assessment said.
Visual impacts of the development would be minimal. “Due to the distance that the wind turbine generators would be constructed from shore and the existing industrial uses of the proposed onshore project sites, adverse visual impacts associated with the proposed project would be minor,” it said.
Potential impacts related to construction and operation would be “largely similar” to to land-based projects in the region.
LEEDCo president Lorry Wagner said: “This is the most significant single approval Icebreaker Wind has received to date.
“The Department of Energy did an extraordinarily thorough review, and worked with a host of other federal agencies – including the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
“We are eager now to earn state approval and move forward. This progressive, clean energy project has already attracted positive international attention for Cleveland.
“It stands to establish our region as a leader in the exploding offshore wind energy sector, and will yield both environmental and economic benefits for Greater Cleveland.”