Touting wind energy as having the “potential to create
American jobs and reduce pollution in our communities,” White House Council on
Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley announced that the Obama
administration and five of the Great Lakes states have agreed to accelerate the
regulatory review process for offshore wind farms in the waters of the Great
Lakes. “The goal is to cut through red tape so we can efficiently and
responsibly evaluate offshore wind projects,” she said.
As of today, there are no offshore wind turbines in any
of the Great Lakes. Opponents cite threats to scenic vistas, birds, fish, and
shoreline property values, while supporters point out the potential generation
of 700 gigawatts, or one fifth of the entire national potential for wind power
from the long, uninterrupted stretches of Great Lakes offshore wind potential.
So far, no one has mentioned the possible impacts on lake navigation as either
a positive or negative influence on decision making.
