The Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. has partnered with about a dozen national and international expert companies and laboratories in an effort to make the proposal happen. And the private partners are bringing an additional $1 million to the project.

The Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. is using a $4 million federal grant to develop the initial engineering necessary to build wind turbines in fresh water, where ice can put pressure on any structure.

The company has a year to assemble detailed engineering plans and win preliminary permits to compete for a larger, three-year federal grant. That money would go toward constructing a pilot project seven miles offshore.