James Croce, former CEO of NextEnergy, the state's renewable energy industry accelerator, has accepted a position as president and CEO of the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization, located in Incline Village in the Lake Tahoe area of Nevada.
NIREC is focused on the transformation of scientific research into viable businesses in order to accelerate the widespread adoption of renewable energy systems. Croce had most recently been COO of Wixom-based Lipten Co., a power generation and electric energy efficiency equipment provider.
“Jim has extensive experience commercializing technologies and building successful public-privatepartnerships in the renewable energy industry,” said Ian Rogoff, chairman of NIREC’s board of trustees. “I am confident that Jim’s effective leadership combined with NIREC’s highly collaborative business model will significantly expand NIREC’s ability to support promising technologies and the creation of spin-out companies."
NIREC integrates researchers, experienced entrepreneurs, business executives and financial capital to identify, fund and accelerate the commercialization of renewable energy technologies. Croce joins many of Nevada’s top sustainable energy experts who serve on NIREC’s boards.
“Nevada is rich in sustainable energy resources and has the potential to be a preeminent leader in renewable energy research, development, production and deployment,” said Croce. “A vibrant ecosystem consisting of effective public-private partnerships is critical to advancing innovation and creating jobs nationally, and I look forward to building on the foundation that NIREC has established.”
Croce served as President and CEO of NextEnergy from 2003 to 2008, developing the nonprofit into one of the nation’s leading organizations fostering entrepreneurial development in alternative energy and securing business commitments that generated new investments and jobs.
Prior to his leadership role at NextEnergy and Lipten, he held positions at DTE Energy Technologies, MCN Corporation, 3M and ANR Pipeline Co.
Croce was appointed by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to three-year terms on the state’s Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization Board in 2005 and the Renewable Fuels Commission in 2006.
Croce is a Wayne State University graduate and serves on the school’s Engineering College Board of Visitors and Electrical Engineering Industrial Advisory Council. Croce was named TechTown Developer of the Year in 2005 and 2007 Grant Thornton Leader and Innovator of the Year.
He is co-founder and board member of the Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition, and board member of Forgotten Harvest.
NIREC is a nonprofit public-private partnership that integrates researchers, experienced entrepreneurs, business executives, and financial capital to identify, fund and accelerate the development of renewable energy technologies. NIREC generates jobs through the commercialization and widespread deployment of renewable energy solutions.
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