WESSINGTON SPRINGS — A new wind farm under construction near Wessington Springs will help South Dakota develop its wind power to become a cheap, clean and renewable energy source to meet the growing domestic energy needs, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said after a Tuesday tour.

The Heartland Consumer Power District’s project will be one of the largest wind farms in the state when completed.

“America needs to diversify the energy sources that fuel our everyday lives,” Thune said.

Earlier this month, he joined a bipartisan group of senators in unveiling the New Energy Reform Act of 2008, which includes Thune’s provision to extend the production tax credit for wind energy for four years.

He also included a provision to expand the transmission infrastructure for wind energy.

Others on the tour were Heartland chief executive officer Mike McDowell and Heartland employees Russ Olson and Danielle Rosheim. Also joining Thune were Greg Vavra, president of the Wessington Springs City Council, and Ray Garcia and Beth O’Brien of Babcock and Brown, a leading wind energy developer.