The Montana land board has agreed to lease land for a new wind power project near Big Timber.

The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation says that the lease covers 640 acres of state school trust land. The state will get a minimum of $21,000 a year from the lease, or more if the project is fully developed.

The Coyote Wind Farm proposes to place eight of its 44 turbines on state land. The 79-megawatt wind farm is now trying to line up contracts for the electricity.

The proposed wind farm, being built by Enerfin Energy Co., is the third major wind-power project in Montana to be approved on state land.

The land board unanimously approved the plan Tuesday.