Lake Erie Offshore Wind Demo Project In Line For Another Federal Grant

The U.S. Department of Energy is planning to award a USD 3.7 million grant to the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) for the development of the 20.7MW offshore wind demonstration project in Lake Erie, according to local media.

Photo: LEEDCo

This would be the third DOE’s grant for the project, bringing the federal backing to a total of USD 10.7 million.

The new grant would enable LEEDCo to press on with further R&D and permitting processes and to bring the project to the offshore construction and O&M stage.

LEEDCo and Fred. Olsen Renewables, a Norwegian wind developer who joined the project in 2015, have to provide a USD 1.9 million cost share in order to get the third grant, according to a memo DOE sent to the Ohio Congressional delegation.

David Karpinski, LEEDCo’s vice president, said that the grant would take the company through another year of detailed engineering work.

The 6-turbine demo site is slated for commissioning by the end of 2018, Karpinski said.

Offshore WIND Staff