Minnesota Energy Company Exploring Wind Farm in South Dakota

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) — A Minnesota-based company has received permission to test for a potential wind farm between Mitchell and Mount Vernon in southeastern South Dakota's Davison County.

The Daily Republic reports that the county commission on Tuesday approved a permit for Juhl Energy Inc. to put up a 198-foot test tower.

The test is expected to take anywhere from nine months to 1 ½ years, with a year considered the standard for collecting data. Test tower data is needed to help secure financing for the project.

If the test is successful, the energy company hopes to build a $40 million wind farm with up to 12 turbines.

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