Kansas-based Trade Wind Energy hopes to place 335 wind generators on the Washington County skyline, a project with an estimated cost of more than $1 billion.

Tim Wichman, leasing manager for TWE, has been working with county officials since March 2008 and contacting the roughly 600 property owners for possible property rights. Wichman told Dan Ehl of The Kalona News that some leases have already been signed and that area farmers are receptive to leasing their property.

The wind generators planned for Washington County will rise 385 feet from the ground and will produce up to 500 megawatts of electricity, each capable of powering from 500 to 1,000 homes. If all 335 are built more than $1 million per year in new revenue would be garnered for property owners, and $3 to $4 million would be generated for local school districts in new property taxes.

The project will also generate jobs for the area. An estimated 150 construction workers would be needed to erect the generators, a process that takes two years. An additional 10 to 15 permanent employees would be required to perform maintenance on the wind farm. If all goes as planned, TWE plans to begin construction in three to five years.