Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

Nevada researchers part of International team to study climate change in Siberian Arctic

Emily — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Ancient carbon from Pleistocene era (10,000 years ago) animals, along with chunks of green grass growing in the ancient soil is being flushed into Arctic lakes and rivers as the long-frozen permafrost thaws, producing methane gas and possibly carbon dioxide which may be causing further global warming.

To study this climate change phenomena, Sudeep Chandra, University of Nevada, Reno professor and researcher will be returning for his second year as one of the principle investigators with the Polaris Project, an international team of scientists and students studying climate change in the Siberian Arctic.

Joanne Heslop, an undergraduate at the University, was one of the few students across the country chosen in the highly competitive selection process to participate. It will be her first year in the month-long program. They leave July 2 for the research and field course.

The Polaris Project program is training future leaders in Arctic research and education, and informing the public about the impacts of climate change; essential goals given the rapid and profound transformations underway in the Arctic.

In addition to the field course, The Polaris Project includes research experience for undergraduate students in the Siberian Arctic, several new arctic-focused undergraduate courses taught by project co-primary investigators at their home institutions, the opportunity for those scientists to initiate research programs in the Siberian Arctic, and a wide range of outreach activities. All project participants, both students and faculty, will visit kindergarten through grade 12 classrooms in their home cities to convey the excitement of polar research.

Technorati Tags: Sudeep Chandra, University of Nevada Reno, Polaris Project, Joanne Heslop, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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A dozen "don’ts" for entrepreneurs

Emily — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:02:59 +0000

Most advice to entrepreneurs focuses on what they should do: build a great product, assemble a great team, provide great service. All are “duhisms.” Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs don’t realize that there are things they should specifically avoid doing too. These are also “duhisms,” but somehow, no one ever talks about them. Click HERE for Guy Kawasaki’s list of the 12 most important things that entrepreneurs should not do.

Technorati Tags: Guy Kawasaki, entrepreneurs, venture capital, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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Congratulations Ruth Hedges!

Emily — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:51:42 +0000

NCET would like to congratulate Ruth Hedges of Funding Roadmap for winning the iPod Nano. Ruth entered to win at NCET’s booth at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo on June 24, 2009. Thanks to all of you who stopped by.

NV Energy executives see eco-friendly future

Emily — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:47:21 +0000

NV Energy’s latest action plan for new power capacity will rely almost solely on eco-friendly measures, executives for the power utility said in a meeting Tuesday with Review-Journal editors and reporters.

When NV Energy files its three-year integrated resource plan with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission today, its proposal will feature $500 million for a green-energy transmission line, $325 million for efficiency and conservation and $100 million for solar-power arrays. But it won’t include any requests for funds to build projects that generate power from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.It’s the first midrange agenda without carbon-fueled capital improvements since 2003, when NV Energy launched an aggressive initiative to buy and develop its own generating stations in Nevada. NV Energy spent $1.5 billion in recent years acquiring and building power stations so the company could avoid the whims of pricey wholesale markets. The strategy means the company will get 77 percent of its power through its own plants in 2009, up from 39 percent in 2005. Read full story:

Technorati Tags: Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV Energy, Nevada Public Utilities Commission ,Michael Yackira, One Nevada Transmission Line, ONLine, renewable energy, Reno, Las Vegas, Jennifer Robison, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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Squeeze your way to business growth by making more from less

Emily — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:57:52 +0000

If want to grow your small business, it’s time to squeeze some oranges. No, I don’t mean you have to go out and start drinking orange juice. I mean you have to squeeze more out of the things you already do and have in your business now. You’ve got to make from what you already have.

You’ve spent money, time, energy and careful thought developing a number of key ingredients for your success, such as your existing:

Products or services

Clients or customers

Marketing materials and methods

Distribution channels

Key referral sources

Let’s call that your first basket of oranges. You’re already getting a certain amount of money — juice — from that basket. Now what’s the best way to make more money? Click here to read more.

Technorati Tags: Reno Gazette-Journal, Rhonda Abrams, entrepreneurs,Rhonda Abrams,NCET,Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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Learning how to alter customers’ routines likely means making significant changes to your own

Emily — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:20:14 +0000

Let’s face it: Your regular customers are on autopilot. When a purchase is repeated enough times, it becomes habit. However, market shifts can disrupt even the most powerful habits, and the current financial meltdown is the single biggest market disruption we’ve ever lived through. Customers are altering their behavior because of uncertainty about the future: laying off employees (maybe even your contacts), hoarding cash and postponing routine purchases. All purchase decisions are now up for conscious review. This is a daunting challenge, but it also creates opportunities. Here are some ways to get your customers back in the habit of buying from you. Read more:

Technorati Tags: Entrepreneur, Neale Martin, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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State energy commissioner’s position given green light To bring alternative energy projects to Nevada

Emily — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:08:46 +0000

Nevada is getting an energy commissioner to attract alternative energy projects to the state and reduce public and private energy consumption.

The Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee on Thursday approved a plan to pay this commissioner $117,030 a year. The position and the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Authority, which the commissioner will direct, both will be paid for by $250,000 in reserve funds from the Public Utilities Commission.

The commissioner’s job will be to attract wind, solar and geothermal projects to Nevada and recommend measures to reduce energy consumption.

In addition, he or she will create a database of technological information and financing opportunities that renewable energy companies can utilize. Read full story:

Technorati Tags: ED VOGEL, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU, Renewable Energy and Efficiency Authority, Public Utilities Commission, Gov. Jim Gibbons, Energy Industry Task Force, renewable energy, Hatice Gecol, Barbara Buckley, Andrew Clinger, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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UNR’s Milt Glick Interviews NCET’s Dave Archer

Dave Archer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:16:16 +0000

Technorati Tags: UNR,KUNR,Milt Glick,University of Nevada Reno,Dave Archer,NCET,Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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NV Energy inks solar deal

Emily — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:04:52 +0000

NV Energy has agreed to buy energy from Massachusetts-based American Capital Energy’s 20-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant to be built near Searchlight.

The plant is expected to be completed by mid-2010 and, if built to its proposed 20-megawatt size, would exceed the country’s largest solar facility at Nellis Air Force Base that produces 14 megawatts of energy.

Construction of the plant would create 120 jobs.

Terms of the agreement, subject to Public Utilities Commission’s approval, were not disclosed.

All of the energy produced will go to NV Energy’s customers in Southern Nevada, the companies said. By 2025 NV Energy’s energy portfolio is required to include 25 percent in renewable resources and energy efficiency and conservation programs.

Technorati Tags: NV Energy, Nicole Lucht, In Business Las Vegas, American Capital Energy, Searchlight, Nellis Air Force Base, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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Changes to SBA 504 Loan Program Will Allow Businesses to Refinance Existing Debt, Expand, Create New Jobs

Emily — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:48:54 +0000

Small businesses seeking to expand will be able to refinance existing loans used to purchase real estate and other fixed assets as a result of permanent changes to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 504 Certified Development Company loan program. The changes were authorized in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The permanent changes will allow small businesses to restructure eligible debt to help improve their cash flow which, in turn, will enhance their viability and support growth and job creation. The 504 loan program can be used to purchase business real estate or fixed assets, such as heavy equipment or machinery, and expand current development projects.

“This is one more piece of the Recovery Act that is going to have a direct impact and put more money in the hands of small business owners just when they need it most,” SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills said. “Lower interest rates mean lower payments and less money going out the door each month in debt repayments. That means more cash on hand to keep their doors open, their employees working and to even expand and create more jobs.”

The 504 loan program is administered through 271 Certified Development Companies across the nation. SBA today began implementation of the changes by publishing them as a permanent rule in the Federal Register.

For more information on the 504 loan program and eligibility requirements, go to www.recovery.gov or www.sba.gov/recovery.

Technorati Tags: U.S. Small Business Administration,SBA504 Certified Development Company,American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,Karen G. Mills,NCET,Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

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