North Dakota's Public Service Commission has scheduled a hearing next month to discuss plans by three utilities to build a wind farm south of Langdon.

The commission is in charge of reviewing the proposed location of the project, which includes 106 wind turbines capable of generating 159 megawatts of power. It will cost more than $225 million to build, developers say.

The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 7 in the north meeting room of the Cavalier County Courthouse. Susan Wefald, the commission's president, said Wednesday the hearing will allow people who are interested in the project to raise any questions they may have.

"We'll be looking at turbine locations, we'll be looking at the location of turbines in relationship to property lines, to residences," Wefald said. Other issues include the project's effects on wildlife and the environment, she said.

The commission has jurisdiction over the siting of the wind farm because it will generate more than 100 megawatts of power. It is to be spread over 47.5 square miles southeast of Langdon. Commissioner Tony Clark said the area is roughly the same size as the metropolitan area of Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minn.

The project is being developed by FPL Energy LLC, of Juno Beach, Fla., Minnkota Power Cooperative, of Grand Forks, and Otter Tail Power Co., of Fergus Falls, Minn. Minnkota and Otter Tail have agreed to buy the farm's power output for 25 years.

The utilities hope the project will be completed by year's end. Once it is finished, it will be the largest single wind farm in North Dakota.