NV Energy on Monday sued the City of Reno after the Reno City Council denied the public utility’s appeal of a requirement for its proposed 12-mile power line from Bordertown to Verdi.
The power company appealed a city planning commission requirement that the power line cross private property. “The project is intended to provide additional power in the 120-kilovolt system that supplies power to the West Reno and Verdi areas, and to meet the regulatory requirements imposed upon NV Energy (including the regulatory obligations established by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation),” the petition states.
The company worked with the private Heinz Ranch development to realign a portion of the power line—rather than running through the property, the power line would run parallel to it. The company obtained easements from property owners for the project.
Despite this, the company notes, the city planning commission required the power line to cross private property, “creating an administrative taking” that violates state law, according to the petition. “State law mandates that we route our line in a manner least injurious to property owners,” the company’s appeal stated.
Heinz Ranch also appealed the planning commission’s decision. The city council denied both appeals on Aug. 28. NV Energy’s petition for judicial review seeks to remove the city’s requirement that the power line cross private property.
Council members opposing the appeal cited the cost to ratepayers for the project and concerns over trees being cut down to make way for the power line. The council voted to deny the appeal and uphold the planning commission’s decision.
City of Reno officials did not respond to a request for comment.
