HARROLD, S.D.(KCCR)- The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission took public comment Wednesday night on the proposed 71 unit North Bend wind farm planned for an area straddling the Hughes/Hyde County line.  County roads used to haul materials for wind towers was a concern during construction of the Triple H facility in Hyde County.  Nick Nemec has agreements with both farms and says ENGIE, the company behind both projects, made county roads better than before.

Nemec also spoke to how the wind towers didn’t seem to impede wildlife.  That wasn’t the case for Michael Bollweg, who farms and operates the Tumblewood Lodge south of Harrold; that generates around 150-thousand dollars annually in sales tax and license revenue.

The look of wind turbines dotting the landscape wasn’t a concern for Tonja Jessen who lives near Harrold in Webster Township…

Another concern was raised over the project possibly disturbing untouched native prairie land and an old Native American village site that dates back some 600 years.  If approvals move forward, construction on North Bend could begin by the spring of 2022.