geronimowindturbineJamestown (CSi) The planned wind farm project at Courtenay has changed hands. The $300 million Courtenay Wind Farm will now be built by Xcel Energy.

The Courtenay Wind Farm had been planned and developed by Geronimo Energy.

Permits were issued by the North Dakota Public Service Commission and the Stutsman County Commission in 2013 however construction never was initiated.

The sale must be approved by the North Dakota Public Service Commission and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission before the deal is finalized. Those approvals are expected in August.

North Dakota principal manager for Xcel Energy Mark Nisbet says, Xcel Energy had committed to purchase the electricity generated by the wind farm. It will now be responsible for the construction and operation of the wind farm.

The project includes 100 turbines producing 200 megawatts of electricity over a 25,000-acre area near Courtenay.

The project will employ about 200 people during the construction phase and 10 enployess when it becoms operationaal, and is estimated to pay about $850,000 per year in local taxes.