Wind speeds are often higher on the Great Lakes and their shorelines than they are inland.  Because of this, there is interest in installing wind farms in the Great Lakes and along coastlines. Lake Erie is of particular interest, as studies show that there are favorable wind speeds suitable for generating power.

Offshore wind projects are typically large and require sturdy foundations for the turbines, and onshore facilities to facilitate cable connections and energy transmission. Over the long-term, development of wind facilities may, by helping to reduce use of coal-based generation of power and mercury and other heavy metal emissions, improve lakebed conditions as well as the overall lake health.  Potential impacts, however, include nearshore and lakebed habitat disruption and loss and conflicts with bird migration patterns.  Wind turbine foundations may have both negative and positive impacts on the lakebed and fish species because they create habitat, which may favor some species and harm others.  An emerging new technology, floating wind platforms, offers the potential to be less disruptive of lakebed habitats than wind turbines placed on the lake bottom. 

A number of wind energy demonstration projects are situated close to Lake Erie, but to date there are no large-scale wind energy farms located on its coastline or offshore. Short and long-term effects to Lake Erie’s lakebed, from both coastal and offshore wind energy facilities, can be mitigated by the appropriate siting of facilities.

Impacts of Coastal and Offshore Wind Farms

For more Information

Great Lakes Fishery Commission:
“Conserving Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat from Lakebed Alteration Proposals”,  http://www.glfc.org

Great Lakes Wind Collaborative:
http://www.glc.org/energy/wind/
http://wiki.glin.net/display/GLWCC/