DEAL MOVES LAKES ERIE WIND AHEAD

Lake Erie wind project embraces regionalism with revenue sharing agreement
Alison Meaney, June 2, 2011 (Cleveland Sun News)

"Lake Erie’s offshore wind project took a giant leap toward regionalism…with an agreement to share revenue associated with submerged land leases across four counties…The initial five to seven turbines…are slated for construction in Cuyahoga County waters in 2013…[but] the revenue-sharing agreement sets a precedent for the project as it grows. According to Lorain County Commissioner Ted Kalo, the goal is to erect about 250 turbines…

"Initially, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will receive half of the revenue from the leases for the underwater transmission lines, and the other half will be split across the four counties…"

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"The five-year contract establishes that the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority would receive 40 percent of the revenue, or about $11,000, while Lorain, Lake and Ashtabula counties would receive 20 percent each, or about $5,500…"

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"Kalo estimates the first phase of the project would employ 600-800 people, but that it could ultimately employ up to 10,000-12,000 workers. [This suggests students in Lorain County Community College’s wind turbine technology program will have fantastic job security.]

"He described a race to install offshore wind turbines in the Great Lakes with competitors including Illinois, Michigan and New York…[The state that gets started first will have the best chance to grow] a local manufacturing industry creating everything from turbines, to boats to transport the equipment, in addition to gaining the research and design positions demanded by the expanding project…"