PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- A permit application for a proposed wind farm on the Hughes/Hyde County border is a step closer to restarting now that the Hughes County Commission has approved a haul road agreement with the project’s developer.  County Manager Kevin Hipple says the agreement comes after months of work and months after Hyde County approved a conditional use permit for the 71 turbine project.

Project developer Engie applied for a conditional use permit in Hyde County last June.  It was approved in August of last year.  With the haul road agreement in place the next step is for Hughes County to consider approval of a conditional use permit for the project.  In March, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission suspended the docket and further scheduling of procedures until Hughes County makes a decision on a conditional use permit.