Lake Erie Alternative Power (LEAP) has identified the Great Lakes region as one of the most suitable locations for offshore wind development in the United States.

LEAP announced that it signed a letter of intent with Siemens Industry Inc., in which Siemens will deliver offshore wind turbines to LEAP’s projects. LEAP has achieved an important milestone in the completion of its strategy for its Great Lakes projects. Additionally, as part of the proposed 5,040 megawatt wind project, LEAP is planning to develop and build the first U.S.-flagged wind-specific vessels in support of the project.

Both parties see this agreement as a strategic opportunity to become a frontrunner in the offshore wind industry in the United States by developing and commercializing projects around the Great Lakes.

Siemens has expressed its willingness to investigate, in coordination with LEAP, the feasibility of establishing local production, assembly and supply chain facilities in the Great Lakes area. It has been identifying qualified subsuppliers who have the intention of establishing or who already have established production facilities, supply chain facilities and/or service centers in the Great Lakes area. This is intended to create sustainable employment in the North American renewables sector when it becomes apparent that an offshore market materializes in the United States.

With this announcement, LEAP is taking a step in bringing local content and jobs to the Great Lakes area with what it believes to be the largest offshore alternative renewable-energy project in the United States today.