Commercial operation has begun at a 98-megawatt wind generation facility in Elkins.

AES Wind Generation and AES Energy Storage announced the
operation of AES Laurel Mountain late last week.

Officials say the project is supplying renewable energy to the PJM Interconnection.

The group oversees the electric grid for a 13-state region that includes West Virginia and Virginia.

The wind generation facility also includes 32 megawatts of
integrated battery-based energy storage, which is the largest of its kind.

The advanced battery technology is expected to help optimize the renewable energy generated at the facility.

AES Laurel Mountain consists of 61 wind turbine generators mounted on 80-meter towers deployed along a 13-mile stretch of
Laurel Mountain located in Randolph and Barbour counties.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)