All energy sources receive subsidy, though not all subsidies are created equal. For reference, there are two comprehensive reports on the historical disparity of energy subsidies. One report is published by Management Information Services Inc , the other by DBL Investors .

Admittedly, offshore wind energy is more expensive than onshore wind energy and other conventional sources of electricity. However, offshore wind energy is a new industry with a great deal of room for innovative engineering and cost-cutting solutions. Looking at the price trajectory of onshore wind, it is clear time has lent itself toward competiveness. It is reasonable to assume like other technology cost-curves, offshore wind will follow suit.

LEEDCo and its partners realize that the price of power from this initial project will be above market levels.  LEEDCo and its partners are committed to driving down the cost of offshore wind in Lake Erie towards competitive levels in subsequent projects, with the goal of parity for projects installed in the early half of 2020's.

It should be noted that so-called “conventional“ energy sources that wind energy must compete against also receive a host of subsidies such as tax deductions, loan guarantees, liability insurance and leasing of public lands at below market prices. Some, like the depletion allowance for oil and gas, are permanent in the tax code. Additional indirect subsidies include federal money for research and development programs and policy provisions in federal legislation. The largest subsidy may be that the environmental impacts from fossil fuel use are not reflected through higher costs of those energy sources.
Additional reading on subsidies: http://www.nortech.org/images/stories/Reports_and_Presentations/Stuebi_Richard_Energy_Subsidies.pdf

As of May 2010, LEEDCo‘s preferred turbine partner is General Electric. Beyond the reliability of their turbines, this partnership was formed in part because of GE's commitment to and pre-existing presence in Ohio. There are on-going discussions with GE to utilize Ohio‘s extensive network of manufacturers (over 500) that already participate in the wind industry, with LEEDCo serving as a liaison between GE and potential suppliers from Ohio. To date, more than 30 Ohio companies have been introduced to GE, ranging from fluid and bearing manufacturers to blade and electronic control system suppliers.

Beyond the turbines themselves, most of the jobs and economic development associated with offshore wind will come from activities not associated with turbine manufacturing. This is one of the most misunderstood concepts of offshore wind. To date, Europe has created over 40,000 jobs in the offshore wind industry and most of those are not in manufacturing, but in maritime activities, biology, engineering, logistics, operations, environmental health and safety, tourism, construction, weather forecasting, surveying, finance, maintenance and development.  Most of these jobs by their very nature will be locally-sourced – from the first project onward.