Santa Barbara County's first renewable wind-energy project, which proponents say could provide enough electricity to serve up to 50,000 homes, was given hands-down approval Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors.

The supervisors agreed that the benefits of having a wind farm southwest of Lompoc far outweighed the unavoidable environmental impacts it will bring.

A maximum of 65 wind turbine generators, which will reach 397 feet-high and are to be 15 feet in diameter, were approved, along with meteorological towers, operational facilities and a PG&E power line running from the project to Lompoc.

Construction could begin at the end of this year, and clean energy production could start by 2010, according to the developer.

"I look at these monsters and I don't like them, but they're part of making wind energy, and I guess they're needed," said 5th District Supervisor Joe Centeno, who was one of the four supervisors to vote for the clean energy project.

Supervisor Joni Gray abstained from voting on the item because of a relationship with the appellants.

Supervisor Janet Wolf focused more on leaving a legacy of sustainability for future generations, which even opponents of the project agreed with.

By approving the project, the board denied the one remaining appeal filed against the wind farm, which will stretch across nearly 3,000 acres of leased agricultural land and would be visible from Jalama Beach, La Purisima Mission and Miguelito Park.

The extension into public viewsheds and the likelihood of bird and bat deaths due to the spinning blades are considered unchangeable impacts.

The supervisors overlooked those downsides because the project would create an estimated 285 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year, provide approximately $1 million annually in tax revenues, and give additional funds to owners leasing their land.

The appellants, Lompoc area residents George and Cheryl Bedford, said they weren't surprised by the outcome, but were disappointed nonetheless.

The Bedford's property is bordered on three sides by the project area, and their concern was with the size and noise of the turbines and the flexibility of where they could be located.

However, county staff was adamant that very strict conditions were in place that would set rigid guidelines concerning noise levels for nearby residents. Also, the flexibility was necessary to ensure that each turbine is set to capture the most wind.

The Bedford's next step is to reassess their options, which could include filing appeals to the Board of Supervisors on permits for the project or taking the matter to Superior Court, said Richard Adam, counsel for the Bedfords.

The project had been unanimously approved by the county Planning Commission in September, but the decision was appealed by the state Department of Fish and Game and the Bedfords.

Fish and Game withdrew its appeal, which focused on bird and bat deaths related to the wind turbines, after reaching an agreement with the project applicant, Acciona Wind Energy USA.

Acciona agreed to acquire a conservation easement of at most 164 acres, and give a one-time endowment of $50,000 to Fish and Game to care for the protected property. If an easement is not made, then Acciona will give $450,000 in trust to the California Wildlife Foundation for the protection of bird and bat habitat, according to the agreement.