Jul. 14--UNION STAR, Mo. -- Construction began Monday on what is destined to become the state's largest wind farm, a $300 million project that will be located in rural DeKalb County.

Lost Creek Wind Farm, developed by Wind Capital Group of St. Louis, is being built in an area of DeKalb County south of King City and east of Union Star. Officials said the project is starting nearly a month ahead of schedule after Wind Capital took delivery of wind turbines earlier than anticipated.

Dean Baumgardner, Wind Capital's executive vice president, said the earlier construction start brings jobs and economic investment to the county sooner than anticipated. Revised estimates now call for completing the project late next spring.

"At Wind Capital Group, we have a track record building projects on schedule and on budget, and we hope that with this earlier construction start date we can complete Lost Creek ahead of our initial projections," he said.

The farm is expected to create 2,500 jobs, with a portion of that count coming off site in the manufacturing of transformers and turbines. Wind Capital will supply transmission feeds into Northwest Electric Cooperative lines. Northwest Electric is a member of Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. -- which will buy the power.

A total of 100 turbines, each about 400 feet tall, will give the farm a 150-megawatt capacity. The turbines are manufactured by General Electric at plants in South Carolina and California. The farm is slated to provide enough electricity for more than 50,000 homes.

The ABB Transformer Factory in Jefferson City will make 100 electric transformers for the project.

Wind Capital also operates wind farms in Gentry, Atchison, and Nodaway counties. Another new project is under development near Mound City in Holt and Atchison counties. The Wildcat Ridge farm will be designed to have a 300-megawatt capacity, but construction may not begin until 2011.

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