NCET

Northern Nevada’s burgeoning geothermal sector acquired another key player Friday, when Gradient Resources held a coming-out party at its new corporate headquarters in Reno.

The company — known formerly as Vulcan Energy — officially moved its headquarters from Bend, Ore., to Reno this month. Prior to its move, the company operated an office in Reno for the last two years.

Gradient Resources’ arrival continues to raise Northern Nevada’s profile as a hot prospect for geothermal development. It also provides a much needed shot in the arm for an area desperate to diversify its economy as it hemorrhages jobs in its construction and tourism industries.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who was on hand for the celebration and name change, welcomed the company. Read more:

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Meet industry leaders while learning how to transform business startups into profitable companies at the “C4CUBE Boot Camp 2010: 002″ from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11-12 at The Center for Unique Business Enterprises, 300 E. Second St., Suite 1405, in Reno.

Participants will learn about business positioning, mistakes to avoid and how to get ready for investors. They also will have the opportunity to watch representatives of real companies present to potential investors.

Cost: $99; $55 for students; and $175 at the door. Cost includes handbooks and meals.

Details: lynne.keller@c4cube.com or call 775-622-9900, ext. 104.

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In 19th-century America, the government awarded land grants to start what would become the transcontinental railroad and establish universities such as Rutgers and Michigan State.

Now, Brookings Mountain West, a research group, is calling for a similarly ambitious effort based on the model of land grants to shift the nation from fossil fuel to cleaner energy.

In a report to be released today, Brookings Mountain West calls for the creation of four to six “energy innovation centers” in Nevada and other states that would act as miniature Silicon Valleys for cleaner energy. Read full story:

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The decision of Vulcan Power Co. to locate its corporate headquarters in Reno marks a significant milestone in the region’s efforts to become an international center for the industry.

And executives who are leading the push to build the presence of the geothermal industry say they’re targeting far more than than construction and operations jobs at geothermal sites across northern Nevada.

They want the Reno area to serve as a center for high-value professional jobs — geothermal research, project engineering, natural resource law — as well as manufacturing of equipment for geothermal projects worldwide.

“We’re trying to build a cluster,” says Jason Geddes, who’s helping to recruit geothermal companies in his role as environmental services administrator for the City of Reno. Read full story:

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Northern Nevada business leaders remain strongly pessimistic about the economy and the prospects for recovery, the Sierra Region Economic Outlook Mid-Year Business Survey  shows. After nearly 63 percent of respondents rating economic conditions as poor or very poor, experts this week said the findings serve notice that change, from infrastructure to education, is needed to pull Northern Nevada’s business sector out of the recession. Read full story:

Technorati Tags: Reno Gazette-Journal,Sierra Region Economic Outlook Mid-Year Business Survey,Brian Bonnenfant,Center for Regional Studies at the University of Nevada Reno,UNR College of Business,Greg Mosier,Len Stevens,Sparks Chamber of Commerce,Nevada,business,NCET,Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology