Eleven companies have told the New York Power Authority they would submit proposals by June for offshore wind farms in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported. If built, these would become the first such alternative energy facilities in North America.

NYPA has said the two lakes can accommodate a total of 2,200 wind turbines in their waters that border New York. The authority wants each wind farm to generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity - the same capacity as the Ginna nuclear power plant in Wayne County.

"I'm shocked that we got so many," said Richard M. Kessel, the authority's president and chief executive, who declined to identify the 11 companies. "It certainly shows me that people are taking this very seriously. From what I understand, there are companies from all over the world. I think this project has attracted international attention."

Kessel acknowledged there has been opposition to the authority's plans in some quarters, particularly at Lake Ontario's eastern end. Citizen groups have formed there to oppose the project, and county lawmakers in Jefferson and Oswego counties have gone on record against the concept. The Wayne County Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing on the idea March 31.

"Where there's opposition, we'll go somewhere else. There's lots of room," Kessel said.