Several months after announcing plans to construct wind-power projects on Western New York's two Great Lakes - Erie and Ontario - the state is ready to accept bids for the initiative.

The head of the New York Power Authority, Richard Kessel, Tuesday put out a request for proposals for companies interested in working with the state on what earlier this year was branded as a $1 billion offshore wind project, and the first of its kind in fresh water in the U.S.

NYPA wants proposals for development of a wind farm, on either Lake Erie or Lake Ontario, with power to range from 120 megawatts to 500 megawatts. All bids should include project costs and are due by June 1, 2010, with the winning bids to be announced about a year from now.