Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- China Datang Corp., the nation's second-biggest power producer, received state permission to build a 4.5 billion-yuan ($659 million) wind farm as the government expedites project approvals to spur economic growth.

The National Energy Administration has approved China Datang's proposal to construct a plant to generate power from the wind in the northeastern province of Jilin, the Beijing-based company said in a statement on its Web site today. The plant will have a capacity of 400 megawatts.

The government is accelerating project approvals in the energy sector to help stimulate the economy, which expanded at the weakest pace in five years in the third quarter. China is also turning to alternative energy such as wind, solar and hydro- power to reduce its reliance on polluting coal, currently generating almost 80 percent of its electricity.

To contact the reporter on this story: Wang Ying in Beijing at ywang30@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: December 30, 2008 21:00 EST