State funds its first Center for Excellence in Las Vegas
CARSON CITY — Funding was approved Tuesday for Nevada’s first Center of Excellence, a facility at the Desert Research Institute where experts will concentrate on the development and preservation of water resources.
About $4 million in state funds was appropriated by the state Board of Examiners to develop the center at the research institute in Las Vegas.
Under the contract, the institute, the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and IBM will work to develop patents and technology that could used by public and private clients
Although just three to six people will be hired initially, Steve Hill, the economic development director, said the hope is the program will become self-sufficient and lead to hiring of many workers.
Gov. Brian Sandoval hailed the contract. One of his goals has been finding ways to diversify the economy and create jobs through Centers of Excellence. He presides over the Board of Examiners.
“We have a lot of Centers of Excellence in places where there is an abundance of water,” he said. “This will make us the center for the globe in places where there is a scarcity of water.”
As an example of what the center might study, Hill pointed to finding ways to adjust pressure in water distribution lines and determining leaks in the lines. Hill said that over the years, municipalities have tried to retain constant pressure in water lines, even when that much pressure is not needed. That wastes energy and costs money.
“If you can monitor the system on a constant basis, drill pumps up and down, it would use much less energy,” he said.
He said water system leaks typically waste 5 percent of water.
“If we can identity where they happen by sensors, you would save that water,” Hill added.
He will report regularly to the Board of Examiners on the work accomplished at the center.
“It creates jobs,” Hill said.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
