TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — The Twin Falls County Planning and Zoning Commission in south-central Idaho is scheduled to hear two conditional-use permit requests for new wind farms and permit changes for three others later this month.

The Salmon Falls Land and Livestock Co. has applied to build a 14-turbine wind farm in an agricultural preservation zone on 860 acres.

Kathy Henslee, a spokeswoman for the company, told The Times-News that the project has been planned for some time.

The other new wind farm proposal is from Half Moon LLC, who want to build Payne's Ferry Wind Park with 14-turbines.

The requests for permit changes involve the Pilgrim Stage, Thousand Springs and Oregon Trail wind parks. The planning and zoning commission last year granted the developers behind the projects more time to start construction.

The developers of two of the wind parks now want to slightly increase the number of turbines, and the third wants to add more property to the 360-acre footprint.

The public hearing on the requests is set for Jan. 28.

Laura Wilson, planning and zoning planner, said the wind farm requests are the first since last February.

Wind farm activity has continued in the region. Construction on the 16.8 megawatt Tuana Springs wind farm started last fall and could start producing power this spring. Idaho Power has submitted sales agreements with small wind farms to the state for approval.

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