You'd be surprised. One on that space would be too little for your peppers, except maybe for a hotspot in the middle, two is probably about right. Herbs vary, but the mediterranean ones I have would be happy to have all three blazing down on them, although possibly they'd grow just as well with only two.

Make sure you use a reflector (should I have that in my sig maybe?).

>>You'd be surprised. One on that space would be too little for your peppers, except maybe for a hotspot in the middle, two is probably about right

Ok great.

>>Make sure you use a reflector

I'm going to try and make a custom reflector with mylar and sheets of metal or wood. Should do ok and cheap cheap cheap!
At the very worst I will cover the shelf with mylar(top bottom and sides).

I don't think you need to worry. 3 85W CFLs produce about the same # of lumens as 6 4 foot t8s.

Here's a pic of my temporary grow box.
6500k 85 watts CFL.
I used a emergency camping blanket to cover the inside of the box.
Temp is 92F and soil is 79F. Should be good for peppers. :)

If my plants don't get enough light, I give up!

That one on the right doesn't look like a pepper!

Having three bulbs gives you the option of adjusting the light levels as needed so I think you'll do fine. Might need a taller box in a few months though ;)

The one on the bottom right is a branch off of a cacti.
It was dying.The roots are rotted so I cut a branch and transplanted it to see if I could save it.

The one to the left of the cati has lots of white hair on it's leaves (C. pubescen ?).
Strange because the seeds I brought back from Mexico are Cuarresmen,Serrano,Habanero and Chilacas (Pasilla) and none of those are pubescen.
Could be the result of cross polination. I guess I will find out in a few months.

I also have a few flowers in that mix.

The grow box is just a temp solution until I free up my shelves from junk.