Manhattan ? Kansas State University plans to seek a federal grant to build several wind turbines to be used for research.

Officials would like to build the towers near county shops so the energy could be used at the shops. But university officials have said they have alternative sites available if the location doesn’t work.

County commissioners would be required to approve the project and some sounded enthusiastic during discussions last week.

Commissioner Karen McCulloh said the project would be “fantastic as a showplace for sustainable energy.”

The university proposal calls for the towers to be of varying types and sizes. The school would then study how the differences influence power production.