Wind Farm in Southwest Missouri/Southeast Kansas Approved

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall on a wind project in southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas.

Liberty Utilities-Empire District announced Thursday the Missouri Public Service Commission has approved the project, which the utility says is an investment of more than $1 billion.

The Joplin Globe reports the utility will place about 140 turbines in parts of Jasper, Barton, Lawrence and Dade counties in Missouri. Another 139 turbines will be erected in Neosho County, Kansas.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

Empire’s original proposal called for a $1.5 billion project to generate 800 megawatts of wind energy and closing its coal-fired plant in Asbury more than 15 years early. During negotiations, the utility agreed to delay closing the coal-fired plant and to reduce the targeted production to 600 megawatts.