Wind Farm Just Outside Paynesville Gets State OK

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The state Public Utilities Commission has approved a certificate of need and a site permit for a proposed wind-energy farm north of Paynesville, a major step in the project.

Paynesville Wind, a subsidiary of Geronimo Wind Energy, wants to build up to 60 turbines that are each about 400 feet high. The 95-megawatt wind farm would cover about 15,000 acres in the townships of Zion, Paynesville, Spring Hill and Lake Henry.

The company has signed agreements with property owners for more than 12,000 acres in the project area. A company spokesman tells the St. Cloud Times that the approval allows them to finish engineering and negotiating on a purchase agreement for electricity produced by the turbines.

Construction is expected to begin sometime next year.

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