The northern part of Mingo County has been identified as a potential site for a wind turbine project, which would harness the wind to create electricity.

Eric Mathis, project director for Just and Open Businesses that are Sustainable, or JOBS, says the area around Kermit, Breeden and Dingess was selected by use of meteorological research and airflow data gathered from airports.

Mathis told the Daily News Gamesa, one of the main wind turbine manufacturers worldwide, is working with JOBS in an effort to bring wind turbines to southern West Virginia.

“The first part of the process is to locate ‘hotspots,’ areas where class four winds have been identified,” Mathis said. “We have found some potential spots in the northern part of the county.”

Mathis said JOBS is in the process of locating the owners of these properties.

The organization will host an informational meeting at the Williamson campus of Southern West Virginia Community College March 14. Mathis said he hopes property owners who have mountain ridges on their land will attend the meeting.

Property owners are compensated well for the use of their land to locate windmills, Mathis said.

Although no definite plans have been made for a wind facility in Mingo, Mathis said such a wind farm could potentially include 20 to 60 utility scale turbines, which could produce one to 1.5 megawatts of power. One megawatt, he explained, can power 200 homes.

The cost to get the wind farm up and running is approximately $1,3 million, Mathis said.

Mathis said JOBS is working toward diversifying industry in Southern West Virginia.

“Wind power, the fastest growing energy source in the world, is a proven technology that can attract emerging industries to the region and offer innovative, high wage jobs for economic growth and diversity,” Mathis said.

Senator Jay Rockefeller said recently the country should look for energy alternatives.

“We need to examine how to harness our abundant natural resources to produce cleaner, cheaper energy,” Rockefeller said.

Senator Robert Byrd agrees.

“It is time to devote new innovation and ingenuity to energy policy and blaze new trails,” Byrd said in a statement on energy.

Gamesa is also looking for locations to expand its manufacture of wind turbine components, Mathis said. He is working with JOBS to try to attract the company to West Virginia.

“The replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources generates an increasing demand for the components of these new technologies,” Mathis said. “The JOBS project seeks to create the necessary infrastructure to supply this national demand.”

Senator Byrd’s statement notes the potential for growth in the growing renewable energy industry.

“Like research done for space programs, energy research will produce spin-offs that will create jobs, improve life, secure our energy future and bolster national security,” Byrd said.