Cleveland Power of Wind Action Team Update
Greetings Wind Advocates,
Earlier this month, LEEDCo put out a press release stating that they had decided to temporarily pause the Icebreaker Wind Project. Although this was very disappointing news, it was not entirely unexpected. The private developer, Fred.Olsen Seawind, had reduced its commitment to the project several years ago when the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) had inserted a requirement in their approval that the turbines be shut down nightly during peak bird migrations from September to April. This “poison pill” would have made the project uneconomical. Although this requirement was subsequently removed, a legal challenge to the OPSB approval further delayed the project until August of 2022.
This is not the end of Icebreaker. Despite these headwinds, LEEDCo is open to the possibility of another developer-owner taking over the project.
Cleveland Power of Wind Action Team has begun meeting with various County officials to plan and support next steps and to find a path forward given that the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority may be winding down its involvement, that the U.S. Department of Energy and LEEDCo have mutually agreed to dissolve the existing funding award to the project, and that the project design can be strengthened by modifications to incorporate improvements in offshore wind technology, which has changed substantially in the past two decades.
Several recent developments have given us hope: the federal government continues to prioritize offshore wind, and the recent COP28 committed to tripling the amount of renewable energy by 2030, which means a growing demand for clean power will want to unlock the tremendous potential of Great Lakes Wind. Icebreaker Wind is the only fully approved offshore wind project on the Great Lakes and thus offers a great opportunity for a wind developer to enter the market without years of obtaining approvals.
So, as we enter this season of renewal and hope, let us commit to bringing this project to fruition. Our next step is to build political support from the municipalities, county governments, and state and federal officials in the Icebreaker project area.
We are scheduling individual meetings with these elected officials to ask for their continued support for LEEDCo as it develops a path forward for Icebreaker. Please join us, in particular for the meetings with the elected officials that represent you personally. To participate, please email me at tschock1@hotmail.com as soon as possible. It is always much better to have a constituent in the meeting with the elected official. We will set up the meeting and bring all the supporting material. All you need to do is attend to show your support! If you personally know any politicians, that would be a great advantage, but it is not necessary at all.
Icebreaker Wind has come so far with all approvals in place, a strong network of supporters, and the potential to make greater Cleveland a center for renewable energy.
I hope you will join us to be part of this critical next step.
Tom Schock Team Leader Cleveland Power of Wind Action Team
tschock1@hotmail.com
