The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) and the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) at the University of Michigan have announced they have developed a broad collaboration agreement designed to work together on projects of mutual interest. This includes the sharing of scientific data, access to offshore platforms, and research to monitor and understand large scale processes on Lake Erie. CIGLR is comprised of 21 research organizations and the U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The collaboration will allow CIGLR members to propose projects to conduct scientific analysis and research on Lake Erie in and around the project site. Traditionally, researchers have to remove sensors and buoys from the lake in the winter and redeploy them in the spring due to ice. However, using LEEDCo’s investment in offshore infrastructure, scientists can deploy sensors and collect data year-round in the offshore waters of Lake Erie. This is an ideal complement to Icebreaker’s commitment, for at least five years, of post-construction monitoring of aquatic life and water quality.
Icebreaker Wind is being planned eight miles off the Cleveland shore by LEEDCo and will consist of 6 wind turbines with a total capacity of 20,7MW. The Icebreaker Wind project has been reviewed and approved by 14 local, state and federal agencies and is awaiting final approval by the Ohio Power Siting Board.
