April 25th, 2009 Offshore Wind Power Project Proposed for Great Lakes
In special recognition of Earth Day, New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Kessel announced a public-private initiative for the development of wind power projects in the New York State waters of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
On Earth Day, the 
NYPA issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) in order to begin to develop offshore wind projects in the Great Lakes. A Request for Proposals (RFP) to examine technical issues related to the feasibility of such projects is expected to be released before the end of April. The NYPA as well as the National Grid, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, state and local environmental organizations, wind power developers and the University of Buffalo is collecting information and research to serve as the foundation for the installation of the wind power project known as the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project. The project would be handled by one or more private wind power developers and would be sized 120 megawatts at minimum.
The Great Lake Offshore Wind Project could be a key development to Governor David A. Paterson’s ’45 by 15’ goal which entails New York to meet 45 percent of its electrical needs through efficient and renewable energy sources by 2015.
