TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) - Twin Falls County officials have granted a Montana-based company permits to build four wind parks along the top of the Snake River Canyon.

The planning and zoning committee approved the conditional-use permits Thursday night, after hearing debate over the benefits of clean energy and the impact that wind parks can have on scenic views.

James Carkulis, the president of Exergy Development Group, acknowledged that the 380-foot wind turbines would be visible from many parts of the Twin Falls valley. But, Carkulis told commissioners, he believes the company's existing wind park near Hagerman may actually be bringing more tourism to the area.

"These turbines can be seen and they will be seen," Carkulis said.

Residents said they feared the wind parks - which may have as many as seven turbines each - would change the character of the region.

"This is wind power. This is something that almost everybody is in favor of," said Henry Whiting, who lives near the company's existing wind park. Yet, Whiting said, "you would never allow something like this to be built around the grand canyon."

Neil King, superintendent of the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, also protested the plan.

"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 in a letter to the commission.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game regional supervisor David Parrish said the wind farms may also endanger wildlife.

"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.

Carkulis countered that the company has conducted impact studies on wind farms and wildlife that show the animals would not be affected, and that company officials continue to monitor the affect of wind farms on animals.

Each of the four wind parks is expected to produce 10.5 megawatts. They will all be located in the Bell Rapids region, where many farmers have been left without water after the local irrigation company sold its water rights to the state.

"We have close to 25,000 acres with landowners who would appreciate an alternative crop on their land - that being wind turbines," Carkulis said.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has already approved a request by Idaho Power Co. to buy power from each of the proposed wind projects.

Information from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com