A wind turbine project is moving forward in ND’s sugar cane country

BISMARCK, ND (KFYR) – A wind turbine farm project is moving forward in squirrel habitat in North Dakota.

State wildlife officials expressed concern after Apex Clean Energy’s Bowman Wind Project proposed placing wind turbines 4 miles from a lek-kalo where the birds mate. Native bird populations in North Dakota and surrounding states have plummeted due to a lack of sensitive habitat. They now live on 500 square miles in Golden Valley, Slope and Bowman. They have dwindled from about 30 leks in the state to six.

North Dakota Game and Fish asked the developer to remove six wind turbines from the project area. The developer agreed to remove some turbines.

On Wednesday, the Public Service Commission approved the project’s license.

The $420 million project includes 74 turbines that will be included in the nearby Bowman and Rahm Energy Districts.

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