Wind energy is now recognized as one of the least expensive methods for generating electricity.

The fact that wind energy utilizes a "free" fuel source means that it is immune to price fluctuations now common to fossil fuels. With that said, for obvious reasons, rural areas are targets for such developments.

Developers in general never know exactly how people will react to their proposals.

Ridgeline Energy was successful with one Idaho Falls project that's currently in motion with a second one in progress.  Officials will break ground this spring.

They met some very vocal opposition in Bingham County but still plan to trudge forward with the Wolverine Canyon proposal.

Thursday night 60 people packed the small meeting room in American Falls. Who are the major players amongst the landowners? There aren't any according to a land holder of 550 acres in the proposed area of development.

Steve Deeg, Rockland Land Owner: "I'm a fan of wind energy.  I've stood next to several of the towers."

Deeg says no one person owns more than 2,000 acres. A small piece of the sky, in this case, considering the wind farm spans over 22,000 acres. It's specifically located in the South East region of American Falls between American Falls and Rockland, along the Rockland Highway.

Randy Gardner, Ridgeline Energy: "We can go on and on about all of the benefits. What the short version is, in Idaho wind power's time has come."

Gardner and Deeg may be fans but others worry about the value of their property with a sub-station across the street.  There are also concerns about the positioning in relationship to an Eagle Corridor. An impact study will be conducted, but either way Deeg is confident there is plenty of room to make adjustments.

Steve Deeg, Rockland Land Owner: "As far as major impact, there's really none. Most of the wiring in buried underground so there's no worries, no power structures other than the towers themselves and I kind of think they look nice."

If the aesthetics don't appeal to you Gardner bets the high paying jobs will. For every 100 mega-watts of power generated, five to eight people will be permanently based as the wind farm. That's not including the maintenance jobs required to keep the machines well-oiled and clean.

Gardner says community leaders are very excited and enthusiastic about the project. He explains why.

Randy Gardner, Ridgeline Energy: "The land owners get royalties, the county gets taxes, products are purchased, people live here, this is a good thing for the community and in today's economy every county could use a boost."

Ridgeline representatives will submit their application to Power County Planning and Zoning members in September.

If approved, construction could begin as early as the end of 2010.