The wind energy potential in South Dakota is "huge."

That's what people attending a wind power meeting in Tyndall were told yesterday. Richard Wiebe of Westwood C-Bed Biofuels Group of Minnesota says people who want to get involved in wind energy must identify the level of interest, form a leadership committee and have a feasibility study done.

He says design work and looking for sites can begin after the initial studies are done. Wiebe says South Dakota's rolling terrain and few trees is good spot for wind power. Scott Parsley of East River Electric Power Cooperative told those at the meeting the amount of time could vary before investors would make their money back.

The audience was told that wind farm placement can be affected by endangered species habitat and archaeological sites.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.