From the Erie Times News (May 27, 2010) General Electric Co. plans to build a wind farm in Lake Erie, about six miles offshore from downtown Cleveland. Mercyhurst and Allegheny colleges will soon be powered by wind. Fortunately, Erie could become a player in the development of wind energy, thanks to legislation that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed on Tuesday by a 194-0 vote. State Rep. John Hornaman, of Millcreek Township, D-3rd Dist., introduced House Bill 2342, which would permit Pennsylvania to lease land beneath Lake Erie for wind farms. A previous law permitted up to 25 acres to be leased, but Hornaman said that acreage was too restrictive for practical development of a Lake Erie wind farm. We thank the Erie delegation -- Democrats Flo Fabrizio and Pat Harkins and Republicans Curt Sonney and John Evans -- for co-sponsoring this legislation. If the State Senate approves the legislation and if proposals then come forward, Hornaman says that everyone with a stake in offshore wind production will have their say, including those representing the environment, tourism, fishing and shipping. It's a good idea to air citizen concerns and answer questions early on. Such openness may help Erie avoid the controversies that have erupted elsewhere. Opponents of the Westfield-Ripley Wind Power Project, proposed for a Chautauqua County land ridge, worry about excessive noise and possible risks to migratory birds. Opponents also claim that the Chautauqua County project wouldn't directly benefit local residents, other than those who lease their property to the developer. Instead, they say, the energy produced would go into the national grid. But aren't we exploring renewable energy to make all Americans less dependent on foreign oil, not just one region? Mercyhurst isn't erecting windmills. Instead, it's buying wind energy from a broker, and the price has dropped considerably since the college first started buying wind energy in 2003. "There's more wind in the marketplace now, and the price reflects that," says Chris Magoc, chairman of Mercyhurst's Green Team. Some in Chautauqua County may be balk at wind energy, but things are moving briskly in Ohio, where officials say they want Lake Erie to be in the forefront of offshore wind power development. "It's still a race to see who's going to be first," Hornaman says. Even if the Senate OKs the legislation, there is no guarantee that a project will go forward. "We've got to see some numbers," Hornaman says, referring to potential proposals from developers. Project proposals will also be scrutinized by such agencies as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he says. Still, he's excited about the potential to create jobs, possibly at GE in Erie and other local plants. This legislation means Erie will be geared up to address any proposals that follow.