The scale and magnitude of offshore wind energy requires a significant amount of maritime capabilities, capacity, and onshore land availability. As the industry launch pad and staging area for all installation and assembly activity, port revitalization is an essential backbone to a thriving offshore industry. This includes a number of vessels and shipbuilding activity required to service the industry. To this end, Ohio's ports could sustain its own industry in addition to projects in other states and Canada. Here's a look at the landscape of Ohio's existing ports.

Video: Handling of Lincoln Electric's turbine at Port of Cleveland.

In 1999, Germany’s ports became involved in offshore wind for the same reasons Ohio is seeking out today. Offshore wind was the response to the rapidly declining economic productivity of its historically capable and anchor ports. Similarly, with decline of the manufacturing and steel presence in Northeast Ohio, the region is still looking for the industry that will  reinstate the overall commercial viability of its maritime industries, raw materials, and port facilities; and thus to a greater extent, the local economy. According to TeamNEO, Ohio has six deepwater ports. Offshore wind is one of the few industries of current relevance which offers the scale of development to bring about significant revitalization while employing thousands.

A multitude of German ports are involved at various levels (see report, page 2). A similar model for Ohio is realistic as no single port can support an entire industry simply based on space constraints. This, in effect, guarantees (what is already a multi-county regional economic development project) a more efficient build out, across Ohio's North shore.  Commercial scale farms will require a network of supporting facilities. While location drives logistics, outfitting one port for a particular use may not be economically feasible for the same purpose at an adjacent county. Therefore it is likely one port may specialize in foundation construction and another in turbine assembly.

For details on how German ports are rapidly expanding and investing in infrastructure  for offshore wind, please refer to this presentation by Germany Trade & Invest at EWEA's 2011 Offshore Wind Expo in Amsterdam.