The process to determine if AES will be given permission to place a wind farm on a Laurel Mountain ridge between Randolph and Barbour counties is one step closer to being completed as the West Virginia Public Service Commission conducted evidentiary hearings Monday through Wednesday.

"The attorneys representing both sides presented their cases and called witnesses," PSC spokesperson Sarah Robertson said. "There will now be a briefing period before a decision is made."

According to Robertson, the PSC expects to make a decision on Nov. 26.

If the AES application for the wind farm is approved, the windmills could be erected along the Randolph/Barbour County line as early as 2009.

AES submitted an application for a siting certificate to the PSC on Jan. 31 to construct up to 65 wind turbines on an eight-mile stretch of the Laurel Mountain ridgeline, approximately three miles east of Belington and three miles northwest of Elkins. If granted, the facility and related interconnected facilities would be used by AES to generate electricity exclusively for wholesale in the competitive markets in West Virginia as well as other locations.

"The three-volume application contains project details including extensive studies related to environmental, visual, historic and many other project related subjects," Barry Sweitzer, director of the AES Laurel Mountain project said. "These studies were conducted throughout 2007 in addition to onsite wind data collection. Copies of the application have been placed in public libraries in Randolph and Barbour counties and the application can also be downloaded from the PSC Web site."

Many have spoken out for and against the wind turbines, and the city of Elkins went so far as to pass a resolution opposing the project.

If the PSC approves the project, Sweitzer said construction is expected to begin in early 2009. He said it would provide up to 100 local construction jobs and additional operation and maintenance jobs once the project is complete. Construction of 125 megawatts of wind power would result in AES paying approximately $800,000 annually in state and local taxes, he said, making AES one of the largest taxpayers in Randolph and Barbour counties. AES estimates that construction of the facility will cost approximately $250 million.

More information about the project can also be found online at www.aeslaurelmountain.com.