A plan to build a 100-megawatt wind farm near Marathon has been approved in principle.

Brookfield Power says the environmental assessment of its Coldwell Wind Energy Project is complete, now that it has managed to address some outstanding concerns about caribou migration corridors in the vicinity of Neys Provincial Park.

About 60 turbines, each 80 metres tall and with an output of 1.5 megawatts, are to be built in a remote, hilly area about 30 kilometres west of town just north of Neys.

Brookfield project manager Ian Kerr says construction, which at its peak could require up to 200 workers, is on track to begin as planned in 2010.

When finished and producing electricity, the project is to create up to 10 permanent maintenance-technician positions.

Brookfield, which is headquartered near Ottawa, operates an existing 189-megawatt wind farm on the outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie.

It opened two years ago this fall. Brookfield also operates a number of hydroelectric stations in Northern Ontario, including north of Sault Ste. Marie.