The proposed six-turbine Icebreaker offshore wind project in Lake Erie has received a favourable decision from the Ohio Supreme Court which has ruled the project may proceed.
The court held the Ohio Power Siting Board properly issued a permit that allows construction of the project to move ahead.
Writing for the Court’s 6-1 majority decision, Justice Jennifer Brunner explained that the siting board collected the necessary research to allow Icebreaker to begin construction, while also requiring more data before the company can operate the turbines.
“Rather than requiring Icebreaker to resolve those matters before issuing the certificate, the board determined that the conditions on its grant of the application were sufficient to protect birds and bats and to ensure that the facility represented the minimum adverse environmental impact,” Brunner wrote.
The ruling provides the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) additional certainty so that it can market Icebreaker’s power to potential customers.
One-third of the power is already under contract with the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County and with its permit secure, LEEDCo can now focus on marketing the remaining two-thirds of the electricity it will produce.
Will Friedman, President and CEO of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, said the ruling, while expected, was nonetheless welcome news.
“The Court’s decision preserves the economic potential this project can unlock for the region.” Friedman said. By one estimate, there will be $70 billion+ in the offshore wind business pipeline in the U.S. by 2030.
“Other states are nipping at our heels to attract offshore wind and its economic benefits. We don’t want to squander this opportunity and let 15 years of work slip away to other states eager to capture market share.”
Icebreaker Wind has faced “unprecedented review” from regulators for over a decade, and has now received the necessary approvals from more than a dozen local, state and federal agencies as well as sign-off from the state’s highest court.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said he believes renewables like Icebreaker Wind bring “a great opportunity to grow the wind industry locally as well as provide access to renewable energy for businesses and residents of Cleveland and the region.
“This project has always been a win-win for our economy and for our environment. Let’s position ourselves to be a leader, not a follower, to other states,” he said.