Jun. 9--BELL RAPIDS -- The values of preserving scenic areas along the canyon rim and promoting clean energy will collide this evening when Twin Falls County officials determine the fate of four proposed wind parks in Hagerman Valley.

"This is wind power. This is something that almost everyone is in favor of," said Henry Whiting, who lives in the valley.

Yet, Whiting said, "You would never allow something like this to be built around the Grand Canyon." Tonight, representatives of Montana-based Exergy Development will ask Twin Falls County Planning and Zoning commissioners to grant conditional-use permits for each of its four proposed 10.5-megawatt wind projects at sites around Bell Rapids, perched above the Snake River Canyon. The company also developed the existing 10.5-megawatt Fossil Gulch Wind Park in the same area.

In April, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission affirmed a proposal to allow the new wind farms to sell Idaho Power up to 40 average megawatts each month. One megawatt is enough electricity to provide power to about 650 homes. Exergy also sells the power generated from Fossil Gulch to Idaho Power, which seeks to expand its use of wind power in its 10-year energy plan.

The permit applications, completed for Exergy by California- based Pilz and Co. LLC, state the company's position on issues of aesthetics: "The location of one site should not pose visual or view shed issues for the residents of Twin Falls County." Whiting, who lives roughly a half-mile from the Fossil Gulch Wind Park, however, begs to differ with that assessment. While Fossil Gulch and the four proposed sites are within Twin Falls County, Whiting says most of the visual impact of the project falls within his county of residence -- Gooding County.

"It dramatically affects the character of this area," Whiting said.

Neil King, superintendent of the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, also expressed concern over the proposed sites for the wind parks in a letter to the planning and zoning commission. King indicated that allowing the wind parks to be located within one mile of the monument would compromise the area's protected resources and values. The fossil beds, King noted, also rest near several natural scenic preserves, such as Malad Gorge and Billingsley Creek.

"If located in proximity to the canyon rim, the visual dominance of wind turbines could adversely affect public appreciation of many of these special places, either individually or as a whole," King wrote.

Energy and aesthetics aren't the only things at stake in the decision. Wildlife, economics and land use all weigh into the equation.

David Parrish, Magic Valley regional supervisor for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, wrote a letter to the commission expressing concern about how the wind farms would affect wildlife living in the Bell Rapids area. Parrish pointed out that three of the proposed sites either border or encompass a portion of the Snake River Canyon.

"The canyon provides breeding and nesting habitat for a number of birds of prey including golden eagles, prairie falcons, American kestrels, red-tailed hawks and Swainson's hawks," he said.

Parrish also expressed apprehension over locating the wind parks near wildlife tracts that Fish and Game manages with the Bureau of Land Management. The wildlife tracts provide habitat for ring- necked pheasants, sage grouse, mule deer, black-tailed jackrabbits and an assortment of raptors and songbirds.

The department recommended that the wind parks not be sited within a half-mile of either the canyon rim or the wildlife tracts. Parrish further requested the monitoring of bird and bat fatalities.

James Carkulis, president of Exergy, says it would be impossible for the company to build the wind parks more than a half-mile away from the wildlife tracts because the Bell Rapids area is home to so many of these wildlife spots.

However, Carkulis said, "Our studies have shown that none of this will be affected." The company has conducted impact studies approved by Fish and Game previously, he said. And, Exergy continues to monitor the affect of Fossil Gulch on various species, Carkulis said.

Much of the private property at Bell Rapids used to be farmland. This year, however, the state bought water rights from the Bell Rapids Mutual Irrigation Co., leaving 25,000 acres without irrigation -- a fact mentioned by John L. Faulkner of Faulkner Land and Livestock, in his letter to the commission.

"It is refreshing to see enterprising individuals take this land that has become unprofitable for irrigated agriculture and put it to a productive use," Faulkner said.

Carkulis additionally pointed out the economic benefits the company's wind projects will provide. Construction of the Fossil Gulch project brought in roughly $75,000 to the Hagerman area in workers' room and board, he said. Exergy hired local companies to perform 60 percent of the construction work on Fossil Gulch, Carkulis said.

"The continuation of the wind parks adds to the economic enhancement of the Hagerman Valley," he said.

PROPOSED WIND PARKS

* Exergy Development Group is proposing four wind projects: Oregon Trail Wind Park LLC, Pilgrim Stage Wind Park LLC, Tuana Gulch Wind Park LLC and Thousand Springs Wind Park LLC.

* Each 10.5-megawatt wind park would consist of seven, 380-foot- tall wind turbines.

* Idaho Power Co.'s request to buy electricity from these wind parks has been approved by the state utilities commission.

* Six sites have been proposed for the four wind projects.

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