PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- Hughes County is now home to its first wind farm.  The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Thursday approved a permit to construct the North Bend Wind Farm project along the Hughes/Hyde County border.  Brett Koenecke has been guiding North Bend through the P-U-C’s approval process.

Commissioners reviewed some of the over 45 conditions included in the settlement stipulation before granting the permit.  Commissioner Kristie Fiegen liked that considerations for areal sprayers were included in the conditions.

The Commission formally accepted the withdrawal of intervenors Michael and Judy Bollweg of rural Harrold and their business Tumbleweed Lodge.  Commission Chair Chris Nelson wanted to know what changed but Koenecke didn’t go into details of why the Bollwegs ended their opposition.

The North Bend Wind Farm will encompass nearly 47-thousand acres and have up to 71 turbines that will connect to the Western Area Power Administration’s Fort Thompson-Oahe 230-kilovolt transmission line.  Construction is expected to begin late this year.