Two proposed wind farms in Stearns County won approval from Minnesota regulators Thursday, but construction timetables are uncertain.
The state Public Utilities Commission approved site permits for the Black Oak and Getty Wind projects to be located south and southwest of Sauk Centre, Minn. Each wind farm is expected to have about 23 turbines.
Betsy Engelking, vice president of the projects' Edina-based developer, Geronimo Wind Energy, said negotiations with a potential purchaser of the power are on hold until Congress decides whether to renew a tax credit for wind power that expires Dec. 31.
The two projects join 10 other planned wind farms across Minnesota that have state-approved permits but are not being built because they don't have agreements to sell the power to a utility, according to state Commerce Department data.
DAVID SHAFFER
