Photo by Jim Tate Invenergy, in conjunction with the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce, hosted a Business During Hours event Tuesday at its new office on West College Drive. Shown from left are Local and Community Affairs Manager Molly Malone, Renewable Development Manager Tim Clement and Crew Chief Brandon Chestnut.

MARSHALL — The Invenergy wind energy project, Purple Skies Wind Energy Center, is on schedule and set to begin a three-phase construction in 2026, according to company officials, who — in conjunction with the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce — hosted a Business During Hours event at its Marshall office on Tuesday.

The project will generate up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity, said Molly Malone, local and community affairs manager. Wind energy will come from towers in Lyon, Lincoln, Murray, Redwood and Pipestone counties. It’s hoped that all permitting will be completed in 2025.

“It’ll be a three-phase construction,” said Tim Clement, renewable development manager. “The first phase will produce between 200 and 250 megawatts, which is a typical size in this area.”

“This is a big project,”said Malone. “It’s not just windy in this area, but reliably windy, because of the (Buffalo) Ridge.”

Approaching landowners has been a huge part of the work so far, said Brandon Chestnut, Invenergy crew chief.

“The people here are familiar with wind energy, and have been the most welcoming I’ve been around,” he said.

“It’s been a lot of kitchen table talk,” said Malone

“Many of the people I’ve been talking to are (seniors) and their children will be taking over, and this is something that is a commitment for up to 50 years, it will affect other family members in the years to come,” said Clement.

Each wind tower takes up to an acre of land, which includes the tower itself, easement, and access road.

A steady crowd was on hand at the open house to meet company officials and ask questions about the company, and the ambitious wind energy project.

“We welcome questions from the public,” said Malone.

Development of the project began in 2022, which included permitting, environmental studies, and interconnection studies, among others.

Invenergy recently moved its area office from Tyler to Marshall.

“It made sense geographically,” said Malone. “We have this project, a solar project in Murray County, a project in Deuel County, just over the state line, and other project.”

The Marshall office is located in the old Wilson O’Brien Realty office on West College Drive.

The project is the result of Xcel Energy’s decision to close a coal plant in Becker, said Malone, and the state’s desire to produce more clean energy.

Invenergy is a Chicago-based company that has developed over 200 projects, including wind, solar, transmission, infrastrcture, green hydrogen, natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage projects.

“We’re unusual in that we are a U.S. company — much of our competition is based in Europe,” said Malone.