Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley will be in Western Maryland this weekend where he will announce whether the state will allow wind turbines on public land in Garrett County.

Back in January, about 500 people met in a public meeting with the Department of Natural Resources mostly to voice opposition. If approved, about 50 or more turbines would go up at Savage River State Forest.

The state said it needs to expand its wind energy capability to meet future demand and prevent blackouts, but opponents to the plan said the turbines would damage the area's natural beauty and skyline.

The governor's office will not reveal its decision until Saturday morning, but he is expected to say no to wind turbines on public land.

"The picture people have now of the beautiful cascading mountains; 450-million-year-old mountains rising up out of the mist will be completely replaced by massive, skyscraper-sized industrial development, and that is all that people will see," said Jon Boone, Friends of Backbone Mountain.

"What are the drivers for the windmills; it is money. There is definitely green. It's not green energy, it's green backs," said Jeff Conner, Garrett County Homeowner.

If approved, the wind turbines in question would be the first in the state of Maryland to be on public land. The state said it needs to expand its wind energy capability to meet future demand and prevent blackouts. We will have the governor's announcement Saturday on NBC25.