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harles River Laboratories didn't stray too far from its 14- year home in Sparks, Nev., when it found a suitable site for expansion of its rapidly growing pre- clinical services operation. After analyzing sites near centers of West Coast biopharma activity, the Massachusetts- based firm elected to move its Western U.S. site just a few miles, to south Reno.
   "We've been successful here, we've developed a successful training program, and we have a strong relationship with the University of Nevada at Reno," says Greg Beattie, Charles River's executive director of site operations for Nevada. "Our success enabled us to feel comfortable about growing here. I'm not sure Reno would have been our choice if we didn't have a substantial base to grow from here."
   The company, which tests the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceuticals in part through lab animal testing and research, bought a 300,000- sq- ft. (28,000- sq.- m.) building formerly used by State Farm as a Western U.S. distribution center. It is adding a second floor and increasing its size to more than 450,000 sq. ft. (41,800 sq. m.).
   Construction began in June and Beattie expects occupancy by the middle of 2007. The phased expansion will triple current operations within eight to 10 years.
   Charles River currently employs 330 in Sparks and will be adding 200 employees initially in Reno. According to minutes from a neighborhood advisory board meeting in early 2006, the Sparks facility will relocate to Reno during the project's second phase. The project is projected to have an economic impact of over $86 million.
   Charles River operates 101 production facilities, offices, and laboratories in 21 countries, including 35 in the United States. The company employs more than 8,400 people in more than 50 countries.    Lorraine Hunt, Nevada's Lt. Governor for nearly eight years, has duties including chairing the state's Economic Development Commission. She cites the planned development of the Northeastern Regional Railport and Industrial Park in Elko, a joint effort between state and local governments and the Union Pacific Railroad, as one of state's most promising projects. Elko County will build a 100- acre (41- hectare) transload facility specializing in carload service for northeastern Nevada and southern Idaho customers. Ground was broken on the 840- acre (340- hectare) site in June.
   "The Elko railport will open eastern Nevada to a major economic boom and I'm excited about it," Hunt tells Site Selection. "Elko has been dependent on mining and the railport will broaden the economic base there."
   The site is near a Union Pacific rail yard and Interstate 80. Elko County is also exploring the possibility of establishing a Free Trade Zone there.    U.S. Census Bureau figures show that Nevada has been the fastest growing state for 19 consecutive years. The latest figures show the state's

A rendering depicts what Spanish firm Acciona's $255- million Nevada Solar One solar thermal power plant will look like when complete in Boulder City, just south of Las Vegas.

population increased by 3.5 percent between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2005. Sierra Pacific Power CEO Walt Higgins, speaking at the recent Utility Economic Development Association conference in Reno, said Nevada is the only state to experience manufacturing job growth over the last five years.
   "This year in northern Nevada, we expect increased industrial speculative building of about 2 million square feet [185,800 sq. m.], and about 400,000 square feet [37,160 sq. m.] of speculative office construction," Higgins said.
   Hunt believes Nevada will become a leading center of alternative energy production from sources such as geothermal, solar and wind.
   "Nevada can be a major exporter of energy. We have huge geothermal resources and sunshine seven days a week," he said.
   Rapid growth creates the need for major energy projects, and at least two are in the works. Sierra Pacific has proposed the US$3- billion Ely Energy Center north of Ely in eastern Nevada. The project, which Higgins describes as the largest Nevada power project since the Hoover Dam, initially calls for two 750 megawatt coal- fired units. The first would become operational in 2011 and the second would follow three years later. The project also includes a 250- mile (402- km.) transmission line that would unify the state's electrical system for the first time.
   Boulder City, just south of Las Vegas, is the site for another project described in superlative terms, Nevada Solar One, the largest solar thermal power plant to be built in the world in 15 years. With an average of 320 sunny days per year, the region seems ripe for a solar plant.
   Spanish firm Acciona, which has a controlling interest in plant builder Solargenix- Acciona, is investing $255 million in the facility, which will cover 15 million sq. ft. (1.4 million sq. m.) and consist of 760 parabolic concentrators which will harness the sun's rays to produce steam to power a conventional turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity. Energy generated in the plant will be enough to supply 40,000 homes and will be purchased by Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific under a 20- year agreement. The State of Nevada has established a requirement that 20 percent of its electrical power needs must come from renewable sources by 2013. Acciona says the plant will be operational in 2007.