The U.S. Forest Service has approved the construction of 15 wind turbines in southern Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest.

The project was placed on a list of 14 infrastructure projects around the country to be given what federal officials call expedited environmental reviews and permitting. It's planned for Searsburg and Readsboro.

Deerfield Wind LLC had proposed building 17 turbines. The Forest Service on Tuesday approved 15.

Deerfield Wind is owned by Iberdrola Renewables Inc., the U.S. division of Spanish energy company Iberdrola SA.

The Central Vermont Public Service Corp. plans to take two-thirds of the power generated by the project. Officials say the project will produce enough electricity to power 13,000 homes a year.

The project is next to another wind farm operated by the Green Mountain Power Corp.