Days before the Washoe County Board of Commissioners would have heard an appeal against the Virginia Peak Wind Project, a settlement was reached between the appellant and Nevada Wind, LLC.

The Virginia Peak Wind Project hearing by the Washoe County Board of Commissioners has been delayed at the request of both the appellant and applicant, according to Washoe County senior planner Trevor Lloyd. Lloyd said the hearing has been moved to the April 14 meeting of the Washoe County Commission.

Storey County residents told the Bureau of Land Management on Thursday that a proposed windmill project would ruin the tourist-based economy in Virginia City and surrounding areas. Jane Peterson, bureau energy project manager, said in a presentation to the Storey County Planning Commission that public comments collected since November have been split on whether to allow Reno-based Great Basin Wind to build about 70 windmills on BLM land in Storey and Washoe counties.

An appeal against the Virginia Peak Wind Project was filed Tuesday afternoon with Washoe County, meaning one more hurdle for the alternative energy project slated for an area north of Spanish Springs. ...The appeal was filed in the afternoon on Tuesday, Lloyd said, the final day that an appeal would have been accepted. Lloyd would not disclose the name of the person who filed the appeal.

Storey County could ban a 69-windmill project not only near tourist towns but almost anywhere in the county. The county planning commission looked at the ordinance Thursday night that could affect a windmill project planned for the mountains north of Carson City and west of Virginia City. The draft ordinance bans commercial windmills visible from the 19th century mining towns of Virginia City and Gold Hill.

With the backing of construction workers and with future neighbors opposed, the Washoe County Planning Commission voted 7-0 Wednesday night to allow a 44-turbine wind farm north of Sparks. About 200 workers, many wearing green T-shirts saying "Vote Green Jobs," urged to approval ...Neighbors worried about noise, dirt from construction, changes of scenic views and other issues they fear would change their rural lifestyle.

Storey County could block a 69-windmill project planned for mountains north of Carson City and west of Virginia City under a new ordinance. The proposed rule would ban windmills visible from historic areas including Virginia City. The Storey County planning commission will talk about ordinances regulating windmills, hillside building and night lighting at its meeting Thursday.

Owning a private windmill will be easier and cheaper under an ordinance approved by the Carson City Planning Commission on Wednesday. Under the plan, the city will no longer require a $2,200 permit application fee and planning commission approval for a windmill. The ordinance will go to the city board of supervisors next for final approval.

The Washoe County Planning Commission late Tuesday night delayed until Feb. 4 deciding whether to grant permits for a wind farm that would put 44 turbines on the ridges of the Pah Rah Range east of Warm Springs Valley. The continuance came after a vote to reject the project and another vote to approve the Nevada Wind project failed. At the end of the four-hour hearing, all but Commmissioner Roy Hibdon voted for the delay so that "holes" in the project could be filled in. He had favored the $190 million project.

Alternative energy advocates and residents opposed to giant wind turbines overlooking their homes in Warm Springs Valley are expected to square off when Nevada Wind's proposed wind farm comes before the Washoe County Planning Commission on Tuesday. ...No matter what the planning commission decides, the project is expected to be appealed to the Washoe County Commission.

Officials of a company called Nevada Wind want to build $300 million worth of turbines above Warm Springs Valley in the Pah Rah Mountains, the first large wind farm in the state. ...County planners are reviewing Nevada Wind's recently submitted application for a special-use permit. John Berkich, assistant county manager overseeing renewable energy initiatives, said he expects hearings would be held by the planning commission and county commission in the fall.

Up to 20 percent of land owners in Douglas County will now be able to use windmills to generate energy. In an effort to encourage renewable energy use, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance Thursday that allows windmills to be built on residential parcels of five acres or larger.

A new federal proposal to help electricity flow more freely could help the energy-choked East Coast. But it could also infuriate landowners, who have traditionally gotten their way in fights against utilities in Delaware. U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman last week named Delaware as part of his proposed eastern National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. It would run from New York to Virginia, and west to Ohio. A second corridor would run through California, Arizona and Nevada.

KINGMAN - Putting Mohave County on the cutting edge of alternative energy sources took a step forward at Wednesday's planning and zoning commission meeting.