Cleveland-based Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) has selected a local company, Middough Inc., to provide engineering services for the design and construction of the land based electric facilities needed to connect the Icebreaker offshore wind farm to the Cleveland Public Power (CPP) Lake Road substation.
LEEDCo is the developer of Project Icebreaker, North America’s first freshwater wind project in Lake Erie, and this interconnection is a critical component of the project and will enable the delivery of clean wind power to homes and businesses.
“Project Icebreaker is a demonstration project that will put Cleveland on the map as an offshore wind innovation and testing center – where we can learn how to harness this vast wind resource in a cost competitive and environmentally responsible way,” LEEDCo President Lorry Wagner said.
Upon completion of the project, there will be six wind turbines totaling nearly 21 megawatts of generating capacity, 8-10 miles off the Cleveland coastline in Lake Erie.
“We approached this project with the hope of partnering with local talents and we are very excited to have Middough join our team,” said Wagner.
“Ohio is the perfect place for offshore wind. We are home not only to tremendous manufacturing potential, but to some of the nation’s dirtiest air. Increasing our reliance on clean wind energy in Northeast Ohio will create local jobs and reduce air pollution. Icebreaker is a win for the economy and a win for the environment.”
Middough has experience in substation and utility interconnection design and supply, including current substation design activities at the CPP Lake Road substation interconnection site.
“Middough is honored that LEEDCo chose us to provide engineering services for the substation interconnect on this very important project. We are confident that we will provide the leadership, collaboration and technical skills to make Project Icebreaker a success,” said John M. Alexander, Middough’s Senior Vice President-General Manager.
LEEDCo has received a Submerged Lands Lease from the state and is in the process of updating and completing its state and federal permit applications. Permitting is expected to be completed in 2017, with construction taking place in 2018 at a total cost of about USD 125 million.