State to decide on McIntosh County wind farm

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators are expected to decide in about two months on site authorization for a wind project in McIntosh County.

The 200-megawatt project of Maryland-based Competitive Power Ventures Inc. also will require federal approval, because the company plans to sell the power to the Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government.

Competitive Power Ventures hopes to begin installing just under 90 turbines between Ashley and Lehr in 2012.

Project manager John Hafner says the planned $400 million wind farm encompasses 17,400 acres of the 37,000 acres the company has under contract in the area. It would employ between 50 and 80 people during the construction phase and 10 to 16 during operations.

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