North Dakota Public Service Commission chairman Randy Christmann and commission members Brian Kroshus and Julie Fedorchak were in Ashley last week for a public hearing on the proposed Merricourt Wind Power Project.

Timothy J. Dawson, an administrative law judge, served as hearing moderator.

The session, which ran for nearly five hours at Ashley City Hall, focused on a revised site plan application from San Diego, California-based EDF Renewable Development Inc.

EDF hopes to build the proposed 150-megawatt Merricourt Wind Power Project in McIntosh County and in neighboring Dickey County.

Although attendance fluctuated throughout the day, more than 40 people packed a City Hall meeting room for the start of the hearing. A number of PSC staff and EDF personnel were on hand, along with a few rural landowners, and other members of the public.