DICKINSON (AP) - Developers of a southwestern North Dakota wind project say it can grow if they can find a way to transmit the power.

The Gascoyne I project, planned by Crownbutte Wind Power LLC of Mandan, would produce 20 megawatts of power. Gascoyne II, north of Gascoyne, would produce 200 megawatts with about 100 turbines. The company hopes to expand further, to New England and Elgin.

One megawatt of power can provide electricity for up to 300 homes, so the projects together could produce enough power for 72,000 homes.

Ryan Segley, the project manager for Crownbutte, said the company is waiting to see if there is enough room on transmission lines.

"We're waiting for the queue process to see if they can get us on the transmission lines down there," Segley said. "You basically work back from transmission capacity, or what you think is the transmission capacity for that area."

Crownbutte put in a request for information to Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator. MISO keeps track of transmission line traffic and how much space is available on lines throughout the Midwest.

"Basically, you have to put in an application and they do a study of what the impact to the grid that power generation would cause," Segley said.

The area has plenty of wind, and landowners are interested in the project, he said.

"The wind blows all the time," he said.

"The community, or more so the landowners, have been very receptive to the ideas," Segley said. "And that kind of project would create some kind of economic stimulus for those areas."

Crownbutte hopes to start construction in early 2009.