MILWAUKEE -- A U.S. Department of Energy chart shows an inherent problem with offshore wind on the Great Lakes.
When the wind is blowing the hardest, the region's need for electrical power is at its lowest -- say on a February winter night as a snow storm moves across Lake Michigan.
And, on July afternoons during a summer heat wave, the winds on the lakes are the calmest but energy needs the highest with air conditioner use.
Storing wind-generated electricity for when it is needed most is just one of the many issues facing a potential offshore industry on the Great Lakes. Other issues abound such as:
• The need for transmission lines from the lakes to the major population centers.
• Electrical rates that are at levels to make wind power competitive.
• How winter ice flows will affect the wind turbine towers.
• The lack of large work ships needed for the construction of wind turbine towers in deep water.
• Having a streamlined regulatory system to allow wind developers to get the needed permits to begin construction.
• Migratory bird patterns may alter where offshore wind farms can be located because of the potential for bird kills due to spinning turbine blades.
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