Wind turbines continue to rise from New York State landscapes, and more are in the pipeline.

But don't be surprised to see them rising out of Lake Erie.

As powerful and consistent as the winds blow across land, they are even more powerful over water.

And as the push for clean, renewable energy sources intensifies, wind power advocates are focusing more and more attention on just how much more wind is available in the lake -- and how to overcome the challenges to harnessing it.

"The potential is actually very large," said Mark B. Mitskovski, the former Erie County director of energy development and management, who has worked on the possibility. "It's hundreds of megawatts, if not thousands."

In the United States, there are about 11 offshore wind- generation projects "in various stages of approval," said Walt Musial, principal engineer for ocean renewable energy with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Already, there are 21 offshore wind farms off the coasts of Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ireland. More are in development.

Closer to home, Cleveland expects to install from two to 10 wind turbines in Lake Erie by 2011 as part of a demonstration project.

"What we'd really like to create is a center of excellence for wind energy and renewables," said that project's most ardent proponent, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason.

Near Belleville, Ont., about 135 miles northeast of Toronto, another proposal for as many as 140 turbines in Lake Ontario got a boost recently when the Ontario government lifted a moratorium on applications for offshore wind power.

The developer of the Ontario project believes it is only a matter of time before turbines will rise in the lakes.

"Five years ago, we didn't have offshore [wind power]," said John Kourtoff, president and chief executive officer of Trillium Power Wind Corp. "Five years from now, we'll have offshore, and people will be amazed at how much stronger the winds are."

The Ontario government already has mapped Lake Erie for potential wind power production.

An official with the province's Ministry of Natural Resources said some developers have formally expressed interest.

"There are applications that have been submitted to the ministry for consideration for offshore wind in Lake Erie," said Kevin Hosler of the ministry.

At least two companies are interested in offshore wind development in New York's Great Lakes waters -- BQ Energy, which developed Lackawanna's Steel Winds, and AWS Truewind.

"I don't think it's inevitable, but I think it's very likely," said Bruce Bailey, AWS Truewind's president.

There are significant obstacles and unknowns. Among them:

Right now, the costs. The cost of windmills in water far exceeds land-based turbines, and would be too high to justify the return for private investors, even with government subsidies aimed at spurring renewable energy development.