When the Benton County Planning Board meets at 5:30 p.m. today, it will decide the fate of a meteorological tower slated to go up off Sibley Road in Sulphur Springs.

After spending six months of researching and gathering data across Arkansas, Trade Wind Energy decided the best place for the meteorological tower, which will study winds, is in Benton County.

"Of all of the available sites in Arkansas, Benton County has some of the windiest sites," said Aaron Weigel, development manager for Trade Wind Energy.

The company has already leased the wind rights to 2, 000 acres in Benton County in order to study the winds as a part of the project called the Honey Creek Wind Project.

"We are only leasing the wind rights so (land owners ) can still do whatever they want with the property," Weigel said, noting that the only property Trade Wind will use will be where the tower, with its 15-foot-wide base, will stand, and a road to access the tower.

Trade Wind Energy plans to lease up to 25, 000 acres across northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma for the company's wind farm, which will cost between $ 200 million and $ 400 million to complete, Weigel said. Leasing the remaining property will take between three and six months.

If approved, the 200-foottall tower will study winds for three to 10 years. Pertinent data related to wind direction, speed and temperature will be analyzed. If the company finds the winds zipping through Benton County are good, Trade Wind will then look at placing a wind turbine in the county, Weigel said.

"If the tower tells us the wind is good there, then you might see something pretty quick," Weigel said, noting that the major factor in placing a wind turbine after the initial meteorological tower has been raised, is finding a company willing to buy the power produced by the turbine.

"There is certainly money to be made here, and it is good for the environment and good for the future of our country," Weigel said. "It all comes down to what can you sell that power for."

With the meteorological tower already on site, Trade Wind will be able to raise the tower and begin studying the area's wind fairly quickly, once the company receives a final nod of approval from the Planning Board, Weigel said.

The project slated for Benton County, should the winds prevail, will generate 150 megawatts of power, or enough electricity to power 40, 000 homes, Weigel said.

Trade Wind Energy - Web site www. kansaswindpower. com - is currently responsible for more than 30 wind projects from Michigan to Texas.

If the initial meteorological tower proves to be successful, the company is in talks to place a second tower in the near future.

The Planning Board meets in the Quorum Court Room of the County Administration Building in Bentonville.