Hays ? A developer has applied for a conditional-use permit to build a large wind farm in Ellis County, clearing the way for a public hearing on the project later this month.

CPV Wind Hays wants to build as many as 129 towers in an area southwest of town, project manager Krista Jo Gordon said. The developer already has nearly 10,000 acres of land under lease.

Gordon said no electricity from the proposed wind farm has been sold yet. The 400-foot-tall towers would be at least 1,000 feet from the nearest household.