Blood Red Indiana hops aboard the Wind Farm Train!

Wind farm to take root in Benton

By MAX SHOWALTER
mshowalter@journalandcourier.com

EARL PARK -- Plans for a wind energy project in this part of Benton County have been scaled back somewhat, and are being handled by a new company. But spinning steel turbines should soon be dotting farmlands in Richland and York townships, using the wind to generate electricity.

"Everything in terms of permits is in place. All of that is done," said Turner Hunt, project manager for Orion Energy Group, which is developing the wind energy project. "We're right now to the point of bringing on general contractors and sub-contractors. We're talking about making it a reality."

Hunt said that construction will start this year on the first phase, which will include 67 towers. It is unclear how many will be built in the second phase.

Original plans called for a maximum of 135 turbines to be placed in the two townships with the capability of producing about 200 megawatts of electricity annually -- generating enough power to serve at least 50,000 homes.

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