Lake Erie Energy Development (LEEDCo) and Freshwater Wind will lease acreage for developing an initial offshore wind project in Lake Erie, US, as per an agreement with the state of Ohio.

According to the lease option, LEEDCo and Freshwater Wind will have an exclusive right for four years to apply for and negotiate a final submerged land lease for the site of the initial wind project.

The lease option is the result of a detailed application process with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The firms plan to install five turbines at the site by late 2012 for an initial project of 20MW capacity.

By 2020 the companies expect to generate about 1,000MW of offshore wind energy installed in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie.