Ohio electrical and steel union workers, entrepreneurs and business owners gathered at a public hearing Nov. 8 at Cleveland City Hall to show their support for the Icebreaker project, the first freshwater offshore wind farm in North America.
Before construction can start on the $126 million, six-turbine wind farm in Lake Erie, certification must be obtained by the Ohio Power Siting Board, Cleveland.com reported. If built, the project would create more than 500 jobs and bring $168 million to the area's economy.
While waiting on the necessary certification, leading nonprofit development group Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo), will measure the impact the wind farm could have on local wildlife, including birds, bats and fish. The group will perform tests at Lake Erie before, during and after construction, Cleveland.com reported.
According to company spokesperson Beth Nagusky, LEEDCO believes the completed surveys will reveal that the project will have a minimal negative impact on the wildlife in question.
