PIERRE, S.D. (KWAT) – South Dakota is on the cusp of seeing its first solar energy development.

Public Utilities Commissioner Chris Nelson says a decision could come before the end of the year on whether to issue a permit for a 110 megawatt solar farm in Oglala Lakota County, and there could be more development after that.

He says these solar farms will go through the permitting process much the same as wind farms do.

Nelson says the PUC is also working through two more wind farm applications—the Tatanka Ridge and Crown Ridge II wind farms.

The Tatanka Ridge project will get an up or down vote from the PUC on Nov. 26, and Crown Ridge II will get a hearing after the first of the year.