A project to build what would be the first freshwater offshore wind energy farm in North America can proceed, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Aug. 10 in a lawsuit by opponents that challenged the state's approval.
In a 6-1 decision, the justices affirmed an earlier decision by the Ohio Power Siting Board to approve a plan by Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) for its six-turbine “Icebreaker Wind” project, set to generate about 20.7 MW of power. The majority opinion, written by Justice Jennifer Brunner, found that two residents opposed to the project failed to show that the board erred in its environmental review, and said it had acted appropriately in allowing the project in Lake Erie.