SIBLEY, N.D. - The process of harnessing the wind in North Dakota continued with the dedication of the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center north of Valley City Wednesday. The $400 million project will furnish electricity to about 60,000 homes.

The event was seen as a celebration of North Dakota's wind resources and their utilization.

"This is an exciting day for North Dakota," said Sen. Larry Robinson, D-Valley City. "It is a great addition to our state. Many areas of the world would give their eye teeth to have the resource we have in wind."

The Ashtabula Wind Farm becomes one of the largest in the state with 131 turbines with a combined electrical generating capacity of 196.5 megawatts. The farm is owned by NextEra, a division of Florida Power and Light, with the electricity generated purchased by Otter Tail Power and Minnkota Power Cooperative.

"We have an ownership share of 48 megawatts or about 32 of the 1.5-megawatt turbines," said Chris King, director of public relations for Otter Tail. "Otter Tail keeps investing in wind power for two reasons: North Dakota tax benefits and the production tax credit and the renewable energy mandate in Minnesota and the renewable energy objectives in both North and South Dakota."

With the additional capacity of the Luverne Wind Farm now under construction adjacent to the Ashtabula Wind Farm, Otter Tail will continue to expand the percentage of its electric power coming from the wind.

"By October 2009 about 15 percent of the power sold by Otter Tail will be wind," King said. "The requirement in Minnesota is 25 percent by 2025 but we're well ahead of the milestones."

Power purchaser Minnkota is using even more wind energy.

"Now over 25 percent of our energy comes from wind farms," said David Loer, president and chief executive officer of Minnkota. "We need coal and we need wind. The coal gives us the 24-hour, seven-day-per-week service."

For NextEra, the project was a continuation of its efforts in North Dakota.

"NextEra now has seven wind farms in North Dakota with 500 megawatts operational," said John DiDonato, vice president of development. "We've come a long ways from the original project in the Edgeley and Kulm area in 2003."

Mike O'Sullivan, senior vice president for development for NextEra, said the Ashtabula Wind Farm marked a milestone for the company.

"With this project we've crossed the $1 billion mark in investments in North Dakota," he said. "We've made over $10 billion in investments in wind in the United States. We think we're a North Dakota company based on our investment in the state."

The feeling was echoed by Gov. John Hoeven.

"In this project we have a tremendous partnership with NextEra," he said. "When they invest a billion dollars in North Dakota it's because they see the potential of the great wind resource and the tremendous community support."

The community was there to support the companies at the dedication.

"This should help everyone in the community out," said Julius Reiten, a landowner with seven turbines on his property. "They got them going and cleaned up well afterwards. They will be good neighbors to have."