Community feedback will inform future work by TNTNV

To better understand how tourism and community needs intersect, Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV) (TNTNV) is launching a resident sentiment survey in partnership with Longwoods International as part of their national survey initiative. The goal is to gather feedback from residents about the benefits and challenges of tourism while also identifying community priorities such as expanded transportation and transit options, downtown beautification projects, and other initiatives that improve quality of life for residents. Residents who complete the survey will be entered to win a $100 gift card to a local restaurant.

Residents can complete the survey by clicking on the link here. 

“Tourism is a vital part of our economy, but it is also deeply connected to the quality of life here in Washoe Tahoe,” said Andy Chapman, President & CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “Our residents are the heart of this community. This survey gives us the chance to hear their perspectives not only on tourism, but also on the investments they want to see in areas like transit, infrastructure, and public spaces. Their input will help guide our work to ensure Incline Village and Crystal Bay remain a world-class destination and a vibrant place to live.”

The survey is now live and will remain open for two weeks. All responses will directly inform TNTNV’s future planning, helping shape investments that support residents while balancing the region’s role as a top travel destination. Survey responses are completely anonymous.  

About Travel North Tahoe Nevada: Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV)  is the public organization responsible for destination management for the North Shore, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Its mission is to encourage destination experiences that support a vibrant economy, enhance community character, and foster environmental stewardship by reinvesting visitor generated revenue back into the local community. For more information, click here. 

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 09/04/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh

Chase Petley rummages through the tool-laden shelves in his garage and proudly pulls out a cylinder marked by shattered glass.

“This is one of my favorite failures,” he says. It’s one of the 15 or so remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) he’s designed in his quest to explore the bottom of Lake Tahoe.

“If anyone knew what I knew about the bottom of the lake and [has] seen what I’ve seen,” Petley says, “it would be crazy not to be putting your whole life into building the equipment and grabbing the people, like I’ve done, to go and explore and show people.”

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Photo: Mysteries of the Deep

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 9/9/2025, Staff Report

 Construction is now underway to build an accessibility ramp in the Tahoe Meadows off Mt. Rose Highway. This new ramp will help everyone, including those with mobility challenges, access more than half a mile of boardwalk trail. 

Crews from Granite Construction will be working in the area for the next few weeks. During this time, the stairs to the boardwalks will be closed. Visitors can still access the Meadows via the Ophir Creek Trail, also known as the Tahoe Rim Trail Connector. 

The Tahoe Fund partnered with the Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp Committee on a fundraising campaign to build an accessibility ramp. The NV Energy Foundation, the Keyser Foundation and dozens of Tahoe Fund donors helped to meet a $75,000 match provided by Steven and Sandy Hardie to make this project happen.

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Photo Credit: Tahoe Fund

By David Vomund

In my recent article on the power needed to run artificial intelligence (AI), I wrote how power bills are going up due in part to the additional electricity needed to run AI data centers.  I made reference to the 20 percent spike in energy bills in the northeast, but data centers are coming to northern Nevada, too.  

The Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (RTI) is known for having the Tesla Gigafactory.  Soon, it will be known for data centers as well.  Microsoft has acquired 225 acres within the center and a larger plot in nearby Silver Springs.  Apple and Google are expanding their data centers, too.  The RTI may become one of the largest data center markets in the world.

Estimates are that these data centers will require a 40 percent increase in Nevada’s electricity usage and consume billions of gallons of water every year.  Although companies are racing to build data centers across the world, Nevada is giving tax breaks to build here, including abatements on property taxes for a decade or more.  I bet the companies would have come, tax breaks or not.  Nevadans should at least know this is happening.  Most don’t.

NV Energy will supply power to these data centers.  Traditionally utility stocks are steady and provide a good income for shareholders.  That has changed.  Because of data centers, utilities are in a growth industry.  The SPDR Utilities ETF (XLU) is up 12 percent this year after gaining 20 percent in 2024.

The need for power is why Market Vectors Nuclear Energy (NLR) is up 120 percent since 2023.  For individual stocks, I like GE Vernova (GEV) and Vistra Energy (VST), although they are volatile and are only appropriate for the speculative portion of a portfolio.  

As for the overall market, those analysts with time to check say that 80 percent of S&P 500 companies reported second quarter earnings better than expected.   Perhaps Wall Street needs better analysts.  Investors are enthusiastic for earnings growth and the expected upcoming cuts in interest rates.  Earnings will be growing fast among big-cap AI companies, but anticipation of that is why the stocks are where they are with historically high valuations.  

Will other stocks follow suit?  Yes, to some degree market participation has already improved.  Small-cap stocks do especially well when the Fed lowers interest rates.  When rates are lowered will investors decide to take on some risk instead of staying in a money market fund with a falling yield?  Eventually, yes.  It’s a bull market.

David Vomund is an Incline Village-based Independent Investment Advisor.  Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555.  Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article.  Past performance does not guarantee future results.  Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.