Northern Nevada business briefly

Brewery hosts Christmas party

The Brewery Arts Center and the Northern Nevada Development Authority will host an "Old Fashioned Holiday Christmas Party" Dec. 1 at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St.

BAC members are invited and are encouraged to RSVP at 883-4413.

The Nevada Appeal will provide complimentary appetizers. For information, visit www.breweryarts.org.

Chamber breakfast meeting next month

The Carson City Chamber of Commerce will host its breakfast club meeting Dec. 1 at the Greenhouse Garden Center, 2450 S Curry St.

The event starts at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $5 per person.

The chamber also will conduct a networking event for women Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at D'Vine Wine, 200 N Stewart St.

New coffee shop

A ribbon-cutting for Le Nougat, the new coffee and pastry shop in the Carson Nugget, will be Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

NNDA information session on Dec. 16

The Northern Nevada Development Authority will meet Dec. 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at its office, 704 W. Nye Lane, Suite 201. Lunch will be served.

The NNDA is forming a Residential Real Estate and Affiliates Regional Action Advisory Committee, which will include residential real estate professionals, and members of mortgage and title companies.

For information, contact Danny Campos, NNDA's director of investor relations, at 775-883-4413.

Utility regulators get stimulus funds

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada will get $816,274 in federal stimulus funds to help train new employees who will help oversee renewable energy-related issues in the state, according to a PUCN statement.

"The funding will enhance the expertise of our current personnel as well as add two positions that would focus entirely on renewable energy and energy efficiency issues," PUCN Executive Director Crystal Jackson said. "We have seen a substantial increase in activity in these areas and we expect even more in the coming years."

In the next two years, the PUCN will give testimony and advice on renewable energy, energy efficiency and proposed transmission lines.

The commission said it will also track and verify energy credits generated by consumers and provide education for renewable energy programs.

The two new positions will be included in the commission's 2011-2013 budget request.