Evaluating a collaborative governance regime in renewable energy: Wind power and the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo)

The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) illustrates the leverage that the collaborative governance regime (CGR) brings to start-up renewable energy ventures. Called Icebreaker, the effort to build the first freshwater offshore wind farm in North America demonstrates that a CGR spearheaded by committed project advocates is critical to pave the way for renewable energy projects. With construction scheduled for 2021, this case study hypothesizes that collaborative leadership is a noteworthy trailblazing method for renewable energy projects. To assess this claim, this case study applies four propositions of the collaborative leadership model (i.e., activating, framing, mobilizing, and synthesizing) and hypothesizes that a committed project steward's capacity for synchronizing the project with existing regulatory constraints is the fifth key element of a successful CGR in the renewable energy context. Perhaps the lessons emerging from this case study will help to guide green entrepreneurs attempting to launch sustainable energy initiatives.