As companies scrutinize their energy use, the conversation often focuses on the cost of power, without considering other significant energy variables that could create unforeseen costs and risks, such as:
Through our Sugarloaf Associates™ energy services affiliate, BLS & Co. offers a broad spectrum of energy procurement and assessment services that can be integrated into any phase of a corporate relocation or expansion project. Our team has over 100 years of combined experience in the utility industry, giving us a deep understanding of utility issues, methods, technologies, infrastructure and costs.
Tim Comerford, Senior Vice President at Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co., discusses our firm's Energy Services.
The last decade has witnessed the exponential growth and evolution of large data centers, server farms, disaster recovery centers, network operations centers and trading floors. This expansion is being driven by the demand for digital products and services from the financial, technology and consumer industries. To assist companies and users of data centers, BLS & Co. has acquired specialized capabilities in the design, site selection and utility installation for mission critical operations of all types. We manage complex location requirements and public sector variables that can impact project feasibility, timing and cost.
To address the needs of data center suppliers and providers, our Qualified Data Center Site Certification program identifies and analyzes sites and facilities offering a unique combination of factors desired by mission critical and data center operations, including: highly reliable, redundant power and fiber infrastructures, competitive costs, and locations insulated from manmade and natural risks.
BLS & Co. conducted a thorough review of Florida Power & Light’s 35-county territory to pre-qualify sites for data centers and other mission-critical facilities.
BLS & Co. and its energy services affiliate Sugarloaf Associates conducted a thorough review of Florida Power & Light’s 35-county territory to pre-qualify sites for data centers and mission-critical facilities. Four diverse sites were selected. The sites offer a unique combination of factors desired by today’s mission critical and data center operations, including highly reliable and redundant power and fiber infrastructures, competitive cost structures, and locations insulated from manmade and natural risks.
BLS/SLA also provided advisory service and expert witness in the development of a new FPL electric economic development rider for data centers and large manufacturing plants in Florida's FPL territory.
Long term, the forecast is for upward pressure on energy prices. This will be driven by an increase in domestic demand for natural gas due to coal plant retirements and by increased natural gas exports to Asia and Europe. What can companies do? To limit future exposure to price spikes, BLS & Co. recommends that customers in deregulated states give serious consideration to longer term energy supply agreements, such as:
BLS & Co.’s team has many years of experience securing energy prices on the commodity markets, and our team frequently structures energy services agreements for clients.
In addition to our energy procurement and mission critical facilities practices, BLS & Co. provides a number of other energy-related services including: