The first wind farm along the Lake Erie shoreline is beginning to take shape.

Officials gathered on the former Bethlehem Steel property in Lackawanna on Friday morning to break ground on the construction of eight wind-generated turbines that have to potential to produce 20 megawatts of power. The 20 megawatts is enough to provide energy needs for 6,000 homes in the immediate Buffalo Niagara region.

The turbines have a peak height of 410 feet.

The project is being developed by BQ Energy of Pawling and UPC Wind of Newton, Mass. along with Clipper Windpower of Carpinteria, Calif. The Buffalo law of Phillips Lytle handled the permitting and land development issues.

The wind farm will occupy 10 acres of land on the Bethlehem property.

The power will be sold into the New York State Independent System Operator grid, who will sell it to retail customers.

The wind power project is part of an initiative being championed by Gov. George Pataki to develop new sources of clean and renewable energy sources.

"I view this project as not just a great success in helping to achieve the Governor's executive order on the renewable portfolio standard, but also as a catalyst for redevelopment of the remainder of this former industrial site," said Erie County Executive Joel Giambra.

Officials said the first of the eight wind turbines should be installed and operating by the end of the year.

"Now we have the opportunity to see what is natural to our environment breathe new life and a new future into a site begging for redevelopment," said Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo.