Drafting vs. Engineering: Choosing the right partner for commercial projects

TerraWise earned the title of 2025 Start-Up of the Year during the annual pitch competition for early-stage companies hosted by Mercom Capital Group at RE+, North America’s largest clean energy conference. The recognition highlights TerraWise’s groundbreaking autonomous rovers and AI-driven platform, which are redefining how utility-scale solar farms are inspected and maintained. By enabling continuous, ground-level visibility into panel health and electrical integrity, TerraWise is helping asset owners and operators dramatically improve reliability, reduce downtime, and scale operations in step with the industry’s rapid growth.

TerraWise is introducing the industry’s first physical agentic AI for solar operations and management, moving beyond annual drone flyovers or periodic truck rolls that deliver only intermittent snapshots and reports. The system remains at the plant around the clock, self-charges, and drives the process from perception to diagnosis to action. TerraPV rovers operate as AI assistants to field teams, running full shifts in demanding conditions to capture consistent ground-level thermal and visual data across panels, connectors, cables, combiner boxes, and trackers. Using this data, Photon, TerraWise’s PV-native agent, translates faults into operator terms, prioritizes severity, and automatically creates and routes work orders into existing CMMS platforms. Meanwhile, remote teleoperation enables immediate re-inspections without requiring truck rolls. These combined capabilities deliver continuous, high-fidelity ground truth, empowering even small teams to manage gigawatt-scale farms with greater safety, faster response times, improved efficiency, and higher uptime.

“Being recognized as Start-Up of the Year at RE+ is an incredible honor for our team,” said Dhruva Sankhe, CEO of TerraWise. “Our vision is to make solar field operations as automated, scalable, and resilient as possible. TerraWise rovers are not just inspection tools—they are partners to technicians, helping them do more with less and making it possible to operate gigawatt-scale assets with unprecedented efficiency. This award validates the importance of our mission and strengthens our commitment to supporting the global clean energy transition with technology that is rugged, practical, and built for the future.”

Sankhe represented the company in the pitch competition, which drew more than 40 applicants. TerraWise was one of 10 finalists presenting to a live audience and judging panel that included Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group; Stephanie Annerose, Director of Investment at HASI; and Alexander Carbone, Vice President at Clairvest. 

The company received a marketing and communications package from Mercom, valued at $15,000, along with a booth at RE+ 2026, scheduled to return to Las Vegas.

“This year’s Start-Up Live Pitch Competition featured some of the strongest pitches we’ve seen, with several of the companies tackling a wide range of critical clean energy challenges,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group. “TerraWise impressed us with a clear vision, practical innovation, and ability to address a major pain point in solar operations. Their approach shows real potential for industry-wide impact, which is why we selected them as the winner.”

Other finalists included the following:

• Bert Thin Films 
• ContractPower 
• Dili 
• Fordje 
• Grid8 
• Noble Carbon 
• REplace 
• Rocking Solar 
• Wind Pulse Energy

“Congratulations to TerraWise for their victory at the 2025 RE+ Start-Up Live Competition,” said Gary Thuro, Chief Business Officer, RE+ Events. “This competition is always a highlight of RE+, bringing fresh ideas and bold innovators to the stage. Special thanks to Mercom Capital Group for their continued leadership and commitment in making this event such a success each year.”

Mercom Capital Group | http://www.mercomcapital.com

Joe Kiskunas marked his approaching 10-year anniversary with the ALL Family of Companies in a big way: he was promoted to branch manager of the Kaukauna, Wis., branch of Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental. He fills the large shoes of Scott Jerome, who retired after a more than four-decade career with ALL.

Kiskunas most recently served as the branch’s operations manager after spending his career in dispatch and logistics. “I’m excited to continue the tradition of Dawes and the Kaukauna branch,” said Kiskunas. “Dawes has a rich history of excellence throughout the Midwest. My job, and the job of everyone here, is to keep that story alive while adding our own chapters to it.”

The four branches of Dawes (in Kaukauna, Madison, Milwaukee, and Elk Mound) have experienced a flood of personnel changes in recent years, as a generation that came up through the ranks together also reached retirement age at about the same time. The result? Dawes: The Next Generation. Kiskunas believes Kaukauna, and all the Dawes branches, are well positioned to navigate growing markets and a changing economy.

“For years, the Kaukauna branch has had a reputation as the home of the crawlers. We’re well known for working in wind energy. We’ve been in fields all over Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas,” said Kiskunas. “Now, we’re seeing opportunities open in other energy sectors. We’re seeing a lot of work in the construction of corporate campuses and the data centers that have been sweeping this part of the country.”

In recent years, Kiskunas worked closely with outgoing branch manager Jerome to prepare for an eventual ascendance to his new role. “Scott was extremely focused and detail-oriented,” said Kiskunas. “I learned by his side, plus he left me voluminous notes from throughout his career. It will all contribute to a continuity of service for our customers.”

ALL | https://www.allcrane.com/

Russelectric, A Siemens Business, a leading manufacturer of power control systems and automatic transfer switches, highlights the value of centralized paralleling systems for applications requiring maximum control precision, system resilience, and operational visibility.

Unlike onboard paralleling, where synchronization and control components are mounted directly on or near each generator, centralized architectures consolidate all control functionality in a dedicated switchgear environment. This approach enables hot-standby PLCs, manual backup control, discrete analog metering, and detailed event logging. These are all essential features for providing uninterrupted power to critical infrastructure like hospitals, data centers, and industrial campuses.

Centralized systems provide superior redundancy and scalability, allowing operators to monitor and manage all generators from a clean, climate-controlled location away from engine rooms that are often harsh, hot, and contaminated by diesel particulates. Real-time synchronization logic, configured for tighter parameters and faster resolution, reduces mechanical stress on generator breakers and improves performance during complex transitions or load variations.

In contrast, onboard solutions, though suitable for small-scale, non-critical systems, can lack necessary redundancy and manual control capabilities, often relying on proprietary vendor logic and shared communications between generator controllers. This can hinder troubleshooting, limit customization, and complicate system expansion, particularly when integrating generators from multiple manufacturers.

Russelectric’s centralized control solutions are available for both low and medium voltage applications and built to robust industry standards, including UL 1558 and DLAH listings. Their systems incorporate dual PLC architectures, discrete analog controls, and programmable load demand functions, ensuring unmatched reliability and flexibility across all project types.

Whether powering an advanced healthcare facility or a large data center, Russelectric’s centralized power control systems offer future-ready infrastructure for organizations that cannot afford downtime.

Russelectric | www.russelectric.com

The U.S. energy storage sector remains optimistic after a turbulent year marked by increased regulatory and tariff-related risks, according to findings from law firm Troutman Pepper Locke.

Its latest industry report, “Brave New World: What’s Next for US Energy Storage After OBBBA and Amid Continued Tariff Risk?” highlights how developers, investors, and lenders across the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) landscape have prepared to face escalating risk profiles in 2025, and why they remain confident about the sector’s overall growth trajectory.

Co-author and Troutman Pepper Locke partner Vaughn Morrison said, “Energy storage’s versatility of use cases has untethered it from the fate of wind and solar to a meaningful degree.”

Across the shifting U.S. energy landscape, the strategic value of storage is widely recognized. It is seen as much as a service for grid resilience and power price stability as it is for decarbonization. Andrew Waranch, CEO of Spearmint Energy, points to this as a source of industry confidence: “So much of the power market and power price is set by expensive and old generators that only need to operate during ramp times in the morning and evening. In contrast, batteries can solve that quickly and cheaply with extremely high reliability.”

As the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and tariffs become clearer, the report finds that project owners expect to be better placed to plan for risks and move their projects forward.

John Leonti, partner and chair of the Energy Department at Troutman Pepper Locke, said, “Although the impact of the OBBBA on energy storage is less severe than some feared, the ambition to onshore battery component manufacturing and the attendant Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) provisions issue significant supply challenges for the industry moving forward. The most prepared in the sector have acted nimbly to restructure supply chains, and key stakeholders are strengthening their close working relationships to share risk and collaboratively revise strategies.”

Many see reasons for continued optimism. While the energy storage sector navigates supply strain, demand for its services is set to rise sharply due to the country’s exploding load growth and aging grid infrastructure. The burgeoning data center industry requires high uptimes and short- and long-term reliability from energy providers in order to grow, making energy storage an increasingly essential solution.

However, the report also emphasizes that uncertainty remains one of the primary barriers to progress and attracting investment.

Market actors report a complicated and tumultuous chapter in the ongoing rollout of utility-scale energy storage, with a number of critical obstacles unresolved.

Foremost among these are the tariff hikes on China — the source of the majority of the world’s battery components — and compliance with FEOC rules, which exclude entities linked to adversarial nations, particularly China, from the benefits of U.S. energy tax incentives. Investors underlined the difficulty of forecasting scenarios given that the supply chain capacity needed for U.S. energy storage currently far exceeds what can realistically be manufactured domestically. Tom Cornell, CEO of BESS supplier Prevalon, described the FEOC rules as “handicapping the industry pretty significantly.”

Still, tailwinds such as robust demand for grid flexibility, supportive federal incentives, and growing bipartisan recognition of the strategic value of energy storage are helping the sector push forward. Its clear value proposition for grid reliability, economic development, and national security has meant energy storage retains an integral role in the U.S.’ energy future. For these reasons, energy storage has — and will continue to — march on.

To read the full report, visit: “Brave New World: What’s Next for US Energy Storage After OBBBA and Amid Continued Tariff Risk?”

Troutman Pepper Locke’s market-leading energy practice helps clients with their most important and complex matters throughout the U.S. and beyond. Whether electric power, oil and gas, or emerging technologies, the cross-discipline team is equipped to handle any related matters, drawing on the depth of the firm’s knowledge in the market. Troutman Pepper Locke regularly advises electric utilities, independent power producers, banks, upstream and midstream companies and service companies, private equity funds, and other public and private corporations. Learn more at energylawinsights.com

Troutman Pepper Locke | troutman.com

Premier Truck Rental (PTR), a nationwide custom fleet truck and trailer rental provider, announces the launch of its evolved mission, vision, values, and customer promise.

At the heart of PTR are four driving pillars:

• Our Mission: We equip the industries that build, move, and power North America’s infrastructure – one fleet at a time.
• Our Vision: We are transforming a new standard in rentals that fuels growth, empowers people, and reshapes North America’s infrastructure.
• Our Core Values: DRIVE- Dedication to Customers, Reimagine Daily, Integrity Always, Value People First, and Execute with Ownership
• Our Customer Promise: We treat your fleet challenges like our own – delivering tailored solutions, fast responses, and dedicated service to keep your projects moving forward.

“These updates run deep. Over the last 11 years, we’ve built a strong foundation and genuine culture of putting customers at the front of our decisions. This commitment is about reinforcing who we are and what we stand for – our prioritization of people, our drive to reimagine daily, and our promise to fuel purpose through meaningful partnerships that will raise the bar in fleet rentals,” says Jason Gold, CEO of Premier Truck Rental. 

By refining its mission, vision, values, and customer promise, PTR is setting a higher standard for partnership and service—one that reflects the company’s past success while positioning it for continued impact in building and supporting North America’s critical infrastructure.

Premier Truck Rental | https://rentptr.com/about/about-ptr

American Power Company (APC) has been awarded a $100,000 SuperBoost PLUS grant from The Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, a National Science Foundation-funded initiative, to lead a high-impact demonstration of a lithium-ion battery with fully domestic content. This expanded SuperBoost PLUS award follows APC’s initial $100,000 grant and underscores the project's national importance as a model for American-made battery innovation: by Americans, for Americans.

The project unites a collaborative supply chain of domestic pioneers: recycled LFP cathodes from Bridge Green Recycling and Arcam Technologies; electrode manufacturing from Ateios Systems; and artificial graphite from Anovion Technologies. APC will assemble these advanced components into 18650-format cylindrical battery cells, which will be deployed in a real-world drone demonstration, and is a step toward potential military, medical, and homeland security applications.

“SuperBoost PLUS isn’t just more funding. It’s a bigger vote of confidence in our national mission,” said Lincoln Miara, Ph.D., CTO of American Power Company. “We’re showing that the U.S. can not only invent world-class battery tech but bring it together to build solutions that strengthen our security, our economy, and our supply chains.”

This project embodies The Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York’s mission to drive rapid commercialization of advanced energy storage technologies while reinforcing national security and economic sovereignty. The drone demonstration, expected by the end of 2025, will validate both technical performance and the viability of a 100% domestic battery supply chain.

“This is exactly what SuperBoost PLUS was designed to achieve,” said Fernando Gómez-Baquero, Ph.D., the Engine’s Director of Translation. “By leveraging regionally-developed technologies and integrating them into a real application, this project accelerates the kind of deployment we need to secure America's energy future.”

Meera Sampath, Ph.D., CEO of the Engine, added: “We are committed to restoring U.S. leadership in battery manufacturing through bold, collaborative investments. American Power’s ‘Made in America’ battery initiative brings together the best of our Engine network, from recycling to assembly, and delivers exactly what our country needs: resilient, homegrown energy solutions that serve critical infrastructure and national security.”

This project also includes a retrospective report outlining lessons learned, challenges overcome, and key enablers to scaling up a domestically built battery, offering a blueprint for future public-private collaboration in energy manufacturing.

American Power Company | www.americanpower.ai

The Energy Storage Engine | https://upstatenyengine.org

Agile Utility Partners, LLC (“Agile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of utility services that accelerate infrastructure projects, announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Ground Hawk, LLC, a company specializing in subsurface utility inspection, locating and mapping. The acquisition was completed earlier this month and marks a significant step in Agile’s strategy to address and mitigate challenges that delay or create execution risk for infrastructure projects.

A portfolio company of Post Capital Partners, Agile was founded in 2006 to support the utility sector and, through its Agile Sourcing Partners subsidiary, has grown to provide comprehensive Supply Chain and Material Management Solutions for electric and gas utilities. The Company recently announced an expansion into field services such as yard management and construction oversight through its Agile Utility Services subsidiary, and Ground Hawk now expands the Company’s field service offerings into the subsurface damage prevention space.

“As our country carries out historic investments to modernize and expand our infrastructure, identifying and protecting existing utility assets is critical to maintain service to businesses and communities,” said Matt Simmons, Chief Executive Officer of Agile Utility Partners. “Ground Hawk’s innovative SUE Lite model provides critical Subterranean Intelligence to asset owners, engineering firms and construction firms to accelerate construction and avoid costly damages and delays. We are excited to welcome Ground Hawk to the Agile team.”

“We are excited to join the Agile team and support its broader mission of facilitating infrastructure projects,” said Ryan McCranie and Alex Whitten, Co-Directors of Ground Hawk. “We look forward to continuing to support our customers and expanding our services across the Southeast.”

“This acquisition represents an important step in Agile’s mission to deliver comprehensive solutions for the utility sector, and we are proud to support the Company as it expands its field service capabilities to meet the critical infrastructure needs of today and tomorrow,” said Mitch Davidson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Post Capital Partners.

Agile Utility Partners | www.agileup.com

Ground Hawk | https://www.groundhawk.com/

Post Capital Partners | www.postcp.com