The Wyoming Game and Fish Department ("WGFD") has extended the public comment period on a draft document:  "Wind Energy Issues:  Impacts and Mitigation for Wildlife in Wyoming" from December 18, 2009 to February 1, 2010.  The document provides recommendations for assessing impacts to wildlife from wind energy projects, for collecting data, and for mitigating effects on wildlife.  The WGFD is especially concerned about the potential impacts of wind energy on sage grouse, which are highly sensitive to disturbances and habitat modification. The adoption of the proposed recommendations could greatly impact the future siting and development of those wind energy projects in Wyoming  that are required to obtain a permit from the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council.  The Interwest Energy Alliance, a trade association focused on furthering renewable energy development in the intermountain region (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming), will be working with wind energy developers and concerned stakeholders in this matter, including the Wyoming Power Producers Coalition and Pacificorp, in preparing comments to the WGFD’s recommendations.  Parties interested in becoming a member of the Interwest Energy Alliance should contact Craig Cox, Executive Director, Interwest Energy Alliance, P.O. Box 272, Conifer, Colorado 80433, (303) 679-9331, cox@interwest.org.