Offshore wind development in the Great Lakes region has had a turbulent history and faced many challenges.
Initially considered a promising location for offshore wind because of consistent winds and potential economic benefits, the Great Lakes have faced numerous setbacks. Recently, the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation made the decision to indefinitely halt the Icebreaker project off the coast of Cleveland.
William Friedman, president and CEO of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority and board member of the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation, said he is not optimistic.
"(The) Department of Energy is in the process of terminating the grant and it's technically a mutual termination between LEEDCo and the Department of Energy," Friedman explained. "LEEDCo is not able to complete the rest of the milestones in compliance with the grant, so there really is no choice here."
There has been little progress in Great Lakes states enacting policies to help get offshore wind projects started. Project proposals cropped up across the region in the early 2010s, but by the end of the decade all but Icebreaker were gone. Across the lakes in Canada, Ontario imposed a moratorium on offshore wind. Officials there cited a lack of scientific research on the turbines' environmental effects.
Friedman pointed out Icebreaker Wind was intended to be a demonstration project, with six wind turbines anchored eight miles off the coast of Cleveland. They were projected to generate more than 20 megawatts of electricity, about 130 times less than the capacity of Ohio's largest coal plant. Friedman noted inflation and increasing costs are the main reasons for stopping development.
"We were delayed years by lengthy permitting processes as well as litigations by opponents," Friedman stressed. "We also had a funding gap which we've never been able to close. Unfortunately, that's caused us to put the project on hold."
Opponents of Icebreaker include groups concerned about the project's effects on migrating bird species and ecosystems, as well as local residents who did not want to view the turbines from the shore. Friedman encouraged Ohioans interested in energy alternatives to share their opinions with elected leaders.
This story was produced with original reporting from Nicole Pollack for Inside Climate News .
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Many Floridians online are expressing concerns over the DeSantis administration's surprise proposal to add golf courses, pickleball courts and lodges throughout the state's award-winning park system.
The initiative, which some argued could redefine Gov. Ron DeSantis' conservation record, has ignited a firestorm of public backlash. The proposed changes include building a golf course at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and constructing park lodges with 350-room capacities at Anastasia and Topsail Hill Preserve state parks.
Julie Wraithmell, executive director of Audubon Florida, expressed concern over the proposals' content and the expedited timeline for public input.
"Because it's happening so quickly," Wraithmell explained. "The announcement came out on Tuesday, and public meetings available for comment are as quick as next Tuesday during the workday when many Floridians won't be able to attend."
With just six days to review the sweeping park plans, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will hold simultaneous, in-person-only meetings across the state. All meetings are set for Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A growing bipartisan group of elected officials, including Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, president of the Senate, have called for the proposal not to move forward, saying it is "not in line with the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of nature." DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said Thursday, "It's high time we made public lands more accessible to the public."
Critics argued the developments conflict with the traditional purpose of Florida's state parks, which have long been celebrated for their natural beauty and environmental significance. Wraithmell pointed out the potential ecological effects, especially at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, home to endangered species such as the Florida scrub jay.
"The idea that we would be trading habitat without which this iconic Florida species can't survive, and instead we'd be getting yet another golf course that's left a lot of Floridians kind of scratching their heads over the wisdom of this proposal," Wraithmell asserted.
Several members of Florida's Cabinet, including Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, have also voiced opposition to the proposals.
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This past Friday marked the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, a milestone for Ohioans looking to make their buildings and homes more energy efficient.
Tax credits in the IRA have provided crucial financial incentives, and some Ohioans - both homeowners and businesses - have been taking advantage of them.
But Marcus Hazelwood, director of building optimization with EA Energy Solutions, said not everyone is aware of how tax deductions can offset the initial cost of energy-efficient upgrades - so it's important to keep getting the word out, especially to business owners.
"Helping them understand that with their existing infrastructure, the opportunity to see how a source of funding and capital to improve their buildings - which in the long term reduces their operational costs," said Hazelwood, "this is kind of supporting the initial up-front capital needed."
Ohio's new energy code simplifies qualifying for IRA deductions, which backers say also promote economic growth by supporting well-paid local jobs.
But critics of the IRA have said its cost is too high and that it doesn't do enough to lower the cost of energy-efficient products and services.
Ben Evans - federal legislative director with the U.S. Green Building Council - said the IRA isn't focused only on businesses, but also has benefits for individual property owners.
He explained that the versatility of the tax incentives, grants, and low-cost financing allows homeowners to maximize their savings and make meaningful improvements to their property.
"And the beauty of the Inflation Reduction Act is that you can combine a lot of these," said Evans. "It's not like you have to just pick one. You can get a couple of different tax incentives for the same project. Let's say you're renovating a building and you're also adding some rooftop solar. You can get tax incentives for each of those."
The IRA is made up of multiple programs, like the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to boost energy efficiency.
Evans said Ohio is well-positioned to lead in this area, and that people have ample time to leverage these incentives over the next decade.
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The Inflation Reduction Act turns two today and one expert contended its impact in the state of Nevada has been significant.
Shannon Heyck-Williams, associate vice president of climate and energy for the National Wildlife Federation, said the legislation has kicked off growth in the clean energy economy in the Silver State and across the nation. She added the benefits made possible through the law have led to the creation of thousands of jobs and unleashed billions of dollars in private-sector investments at the state level.
"A lot of that growth is from renewable energy development," Heyck-Williams pointed out. "Solar power in particular is taking off in a big way in Nevada, and bringing that clean energy to the state and to the residents there."
She noted as the transition to electric vehicles also gains momentum, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include investments for EV charging infrastructure. There are close to 2,200 charging stations throughout Nevada, according to PlugShare. Since transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, Heyck-Williams stressed investments in infrastructure are key.
The cost of the climate provisions in the measure, at around $730 billion, has drawn criticism, since it surpasses what was initially expected. But the Center for American Progress claims over the next decade, the savings made possible through the legislation will exceed the costs.
Heyck-Williams said the law is also helping to lessen the economic burden of energy-efficiency upgrades for homes and businesses.
"It includes credits to help homeowners be able to upgrade their appliances," Heyck-Williams outlined. "To be able to finally afford that new electric vehicle, to be able to replace dirty school buses for their kids with electric, clean school buses."
Heyck-Williams emphasized climate change is already here and is a serious problem communities in Nevada are facing. She contends the major federal investments are critical tools for a cleaner future.
"If they are implemented as planned, they should reduce those emissions by about 40%," Heyck-Williams reported. "Which is significant and puts us on track in the direction that we need to go, to actually get to a midcentury goal of net-zero emissions overall."
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