Western states are trying to keep the sage grouse off the endangered species list. Energy companies are trying to build transmission lines and wind facilities. Increasingly, those two goals are in conflict.

The Twins Falls Times-News takes a close look at the situation in southern Idaho, including providing a cool map. The article concludes that so far, the sage grouse are coming out on top, with regulators keeping their promises to prevent development in core sage grouse areas. Applications for high voltage power lines have dropped.

Read more in the Twins Falls Times-News, here.

Photo: Sage grouse by Stephen Ting. Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife Service.