< Previous132 SEPTEMBER 2024 S I T E S EL E C T I O N NEVADA NV Energy 6226 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89146 Jeff Brigger, Dir. Bus. Dev. 775.834.3716 https://www.nvenergy.com NEW HAMPSHIRE Eversource Box 330 Manchester, NH 03105 800.286.5000 https://www.eversource.com NEW JERSEY Public Service Electric & Gas Co. 80 Park Plz., Ste. 9 Newark, NJ 07102 Kim Hanemann, Pres./COO 973.430.7000 https://nj.pseg.com NEW MEXICO Public Service Co. New Mexico 414 Silver Ave. SW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Mike Mertz, Sr. V.P., PNM Operations 505.241.2700 https://www.pnm.com Xcel Energy 1800 Larimer St., 16th Floor Denver, CO 80202 Thomas Bailey, Area V.P., Commercial & Industrial Solutions 812.305.6754 https://www. economicdevelopment. xcelenergy.com NEW YORK National Grid 300 Erie Blvd. West Syracuse, NY 13202 Art Hamlin, Econ. Dev. Mgr. 315.428.6882 https://www.nationalgridus.com New York State Elec. & Gas Corp. 89 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14649 Robert Mosich, Supervisor 585.771.2104 https://www.nyseg.com PSEG Long Island https://www.psegliny.com Rochester Gas & Electric https://www.rge.com NORTH CAROLINA Duke Energy Corporate 525 Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202 Stuart “Stu” Heishman, V.P. Econ. Dev. & Bus. Recruitment 704.661.0466 https://www.duke-energy. com/partner-with-us/ economic-development Duke Energy 411 Fayetteville St. Raleigh, NC 27601 Andrew Tate, Dir. Econ. Dev. 828.808.2817 https://www.duke-energy. com/partner-with-us/ economic-development ElectriCities of North Carolina, Inc. https://www.electricities.com Tennessee Valley Authority 400 W. Summit Hill Dr. Knoxville, TN 37902 Heidi Smith, Gen. Mgr., Global Bus. 615.232.6225 http://TVAsites.com S I T E S E L E C T I O N SEPTEMBER 2024 133 NORTH DAKOTA Xcel Energy 1800 Larimer St., 16th Floor Denver, CO 80202 Thomas Bailey, Area V.P., Comm. & Ind. Solutions 812.305.6754 https://www. economicdevelopment. xcelenergy.com OHIO American Electric Power 1 Riverside Plaza, Fl. 12 Columbus, OH 43215 Tim Wells, V.P. Econ. Dev. And Bus. Dev. 614.716.1000 https://www.aep.com FirstEnergy Corp. 76 South Main St. Akron, OH 44308 Patrick Kelly, Dir. Econ. Dev. 330.384.5479 https://www.fe-economic- development.com Duke Energy Midwest 1000 E. Main St. Plainfield, IN 48168 Erin Schneider, Managing Dir., Econ. Dev. 317.838.1069 https://www.duke-energy. com/partner-with-us/ economic-development Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives https://www.ohioec.org OKLAHOMA Public Service Co. of OK 212 East 6th St. Tulsa, OK 74119 Garrett Wright, Mgr. Econ. Dev. 918.599.2467 https://www.psoklahoma.com Oklahoma Gas & Electric https://www.oge.com OREGON Pacificorp 825 NE Multnomah St. Portland, OR 97232 Cindy Crane, CEO 888.221.7070 https://www.pacificorp.com Portland General Electric 121 SW Salmon Street 1WTC0801 Portland, OR 97201 Maria Pope, Pres./CEO 503.228.6322 https://portlandgeneral.com134 SEPTEMBER 2024 S I T E S EL E C T I O N PENNSYLVANIA FirstEnergy Corp. 2800 Pottsville Pike Reading, PA 19640 610.921.6451 Doug Myers, Econ. Dev. https://www.firstenergycorp. com Northwestern Rural Electric Co-op https://northwesternrec.com PECO 2301 Market St. S24-1 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Casey McCourt, Econ. Dev. 215.841.5640 https://www.peco.com RHODE ISLAND The Narragansett Electric Co. Rhode Island Energy 280 Melrose St. Providence, RI 02907 Al LaBarre, V.P./COO 401-641-1634 https://www.rienergy.com SOUTH CAROLINA Dominion Energy Cayce, SC W. Keller Kissam, Pres. 804.819.2000 https://www. dominionenergy.com Duke Energy 40 W. Broad St. Ste. 690 Greenville, SC 29601 Marty Baltzegar, Dir. Econ Dev. 803.960.1955 https://www.duke-energy. com/partner-with-us/ economic-development Santee Cooper One Riverwood Dr. Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Mike Cool, Mgr. Econ. Dev. 843.761.8000 https://www.poweringsc.com South Carolina Power Team 1230 Main Street, Ste. 700 Columbia, SC 29201 James Chavez, Pres./CEO 803.254.9211 https://www.scpowerteam.com SOUTH DAKOTA Black Hills Corp. 7001 Mount Rushmore Rd. Rapid City, SD 57702 Jerry Watkins, Gen. Mgr. 605.721.1700 https://ir.blackhillscorp.com Xcel Energy 1800 Larimer St., 16th Floor Denver, CO 80202 Thomas Bailey, Area V.P., Commercial & Industrial Solutions 812.305.6754 https://www. economicdevelopment. xcelenergy.com TENNESSEE Appalachian Electric Cooperative 1109 Hill Dr. New Market, TN 37820 Greg Williams, General Manager 865.475.2032 https://www.aecoop.org Tennessee Valley Authority 400 W. Summit Hill Dr. Knoxville, TN 37902 Heidi Smith, Gen. Mgr., Global Bus. 615.232.6225 http://TVAsites.com TEXAS American Electric Power 400 West 15th St. #1500 Austin, TX 78701 Bradley Lenz, Dir. Econ. & Bus. Dev. 512.391.2981 https://www.aeptexas.com CenterPoint Energy https://www. centerpointenergy.com S I T E S E L E C T I O N SEPTEMBER 2024 135 El Paso Electric Box 982 El Paso, TX 79960 Eric Montgomery, Dir. Econ. Dev. 575.523.3680 https://www.epelectric.com Entergy Texas 2107 Research Forest Dr., 4th Flr. The Woodlands, TX 77380 Ernest Peeples, Dir. Bus. & Econ. Dev. 281.513.7397 https://goentergy.com Oncor Electric Delivery, LLC 1616 Woodall Rodgers Fwy. #5D.004 Dallas, TX 75202 Wilson Peppard, Dir. Econ. Dev. 214.486.2635 https://www.oncor.com Xcel Energy 1800 Larimer St., 16th Floor Denver, CO 80202 Thomas Bailey, Area V.P., Com. & Ind. Solutions 812.305.6754 https://www. economicdevelopment. xcelenergy.com UTAH Rocky Mountain Power 1407 W. North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84116 Dick Garlish, Pres. 800.532.1626 https://www. rockymountainpower.net VERMONT Green Mountain Power Corp. 163 Acorn Lane Colchester, VT 05446 Mike Burke, V.P., Field Ops. 888.835.4672 https://greenmountainpower.com VIRGINIA American Electric Power. Appalachian Power Box 2021 Roanoke, VA 24022 Larry Jackson, Dir., External Affairs 540.985.2623 https://www.aep.com/ economic-development Dominion Energy 600 East Canal Street Richmond, VA 23219 Jen Kostyniuk, Econ. Dev. 840.310.4776 https://www. dominionenergy.com Tennessee Valley Authority 400 W. Summit Hill Dr. Knoxville, TN 37902 Heidi Smith, Gen. Mgr., Global Bus. 615.232.6225 http://TVAsites.com WASHINGTON Avista Corporation 176 Degrief Rd. Colville, WA 99114 509.684.7603 https://www.myavista.com WEST VIRGINIA Appalachian Power Co. American Electric Power 1 Riverside Plaza Columbus, OH 43215 David Edwards, Supervisor 614.716.1000 https://www. appalachianpower.com136 SEPTEMBER 2024 S I T E S EL E C T I O N Potomac Edison First Energy 10802 Bower Ave. Williamsport, MD 21795 Justin Walter, Mgr. Prj. Mgmt. 800.686.0011 https://www.firstenergycorp.com WISCONSIN Alliant Energy 4902 N. Biltmore Lane Madison, WI 53718 Coleman Pei er, Sr. Mgr. Econ. & Cmty. Dev. 262.309.0010 https://www.alliantenergy.com Xcel Energy 1800 Larimer St., 16th Floor Denver, CO 80202 Thomas Bailey, Area V.P., Commercial & Industrial Solutions 812.305.6754 https://www. economicdevelopment. xcelenergy.com WYOMING Rocky Mountain Power 1407 W. North Temple Ofc. Salt Lake City, UT 84116 Lisa Romney, Econ. Dev. Mgr. 888.221.7070 https://www. rockymountainpower.net PUERTO RICO Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority https://aeepr.com/#/ I NTE R NATIONAL ARGENTINA CAMMESA https://cammesaweb. cammesa.com AUSTRALIA Australian Gas Light Company https://www.agl.com.au BRAZIL Cemig Group https://www.cemig.com.br CHINA CLP Holdings https://www.clp.com.cn/sc S I T E S E L E C T I O N SEPTEMBER 2024 137 COSTA RICA Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad https://www.grupoice.com CURAÇAO Aqualectra Holdings https://www.aqualectra.com GERMANY RWE Energie https://www.rwe.com/en lekker Energie GmbH https://www.lekker.de HUNGARY MVM Energetika Private Limited Co. https://www.mvm.hu JAPAN Tokyo Electric Power Co. https://www.tepco.co.jp MALAYSIA Tenaga Nasional Berhad https://www.tnb.com.my MEXICO Comisión Federal de Electricidad https://www.cfe.mx NETHERLANDS Eneco https://www.eneco.nl NORTH MACEDONIA Energy Delivery Solutions A.D. https://www.eds.mk PORTUGAL EDP Commercial https://www.edp.pt/ particulares SAINT LUCIA St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited https://www.lucelec.com SINGAPORE SP Group https://www.spgroup.com.sg SOUTH KOREA Korea Electric Power Corp. https://home.kepco.co.kr SPAIN Endesa SA https://www.endesa.com TAIWAN Taipower https://www.taipower.com.tw THAILAND Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand https://www.egat.co.th/ home TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission https://ttec.co.tt National Gas Co of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd https://ngc.co.tt UNITED KINGDOM E.ON UK https://www.eonenergy.com138 SEPTEMBER 2024 S I T E S EL E C T I O N Advancing the scope of site readiness is the next frontier. Out of Sites? Out of Mind. Site readiness programs have significantly evolved over the decades, influenced by changing project demands and market trends. New York pioneered proactive site readiness with the Build Now New York program in the late 1990s. Initially, these programs centered on earning certifications, like a seal of approval — signaling credibility but varying in significance. Today, the focus is on a more flexible approach that addresses various categories of site readiness, though certifications and designations remain integral. Site readiness has many facets, but at Global Location Strategies (GLS), five aspects in particular stand out in today’s ever-evolving site preparedness strategy. • Site identification . Site identification involves the research and mapping of available land to pinpoint new potential sites based on specific parameters such as location, acreage and zoning. With the surge in U.S. projects, many of the prime sites — those with existing infrastructure and thorough due diligence — are already taken. As the build-ready sites diminish, project requirements are becoming more flexible to mitigate the trade-offs of locations. To address property portfolio gaps and target strategic end users, states, communities, utilities and other entities are shifting their focus to site identification. Sophisticated identification efforts entail evaluating infrastructure and site conditions at a high level to identify properties that may be suitable for development. The key, and often largest hurdle, of site identification is landowner engagement. Both willingness to sell and a reasonable price are crucial. Site identification is a long game, requiring patience from stakeholders to see the long-term vision. Alas, stakeholder patience can be challenging if they see neighboring communities’ successes without understanding the years of groundwork behind them. The Missouri Partnership, aiming to attract large-scale industrial users, initiated a statewide megasite identification effort in 2021. Initially targeting large industrial sites of over 1,000 acres, they expanded their focus to include smaller, versatile industrial sites, recognizing broader development opportunities. The results of their efforts by SARAH WHITE Principal & VP of Site Selection for Global Location Strategies SITE DEVEL OPMENT S I T E S E L E C T I O N SEPTEMBER 2024 139 included a shortlist of sites to pursue for further readiness efforts and development. • Site evaluation . Site evaluation entails assessing identified sites to determine their suitability for development, focusing on factors like soil quality, environmental impact and the availability of infrastructure. After identifying a potential site, further evaluation is essential to assess its characteristics and utility infrastructure, including potential access to electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater and telecommunications. While detailed improvement plans may not be in place, a general feasibility study should be conducted. Tools like the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps may be used to assess environmental constraints and developability, making site evaluations crucial for determining a property’s viability before committing significant investment dollars. The Duke Energy Site Readiness Program, initiated in 2005 in the Carolinas, has expanded to include the Florida, Indiana and Ohio/Kentucky Duke territories. By all accounts, the program has been a remarkable success, assessing over 325 sites and catalyzing significant economic growth, including $48 billion in capital investment and the creation of 48,600 jobs. • Site certification . Site certification is a formalized process by which a site is verified to meet pre-established criteria for receiving a certification designation. Site certification standards vary widely, with some programs designed to ensure general site readiness or “shovel-readiness,” while others cater to specific industries like food processing or data centers. Managed by state agencies or outsourced to third-party consultants, these certifications go beyond preliminary evaluations. They require comprehensive environmental due diligence, including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), wetland delineations and geotechnical assessments, alongside a detailed analysis of available utilities. The primary goal of certification programs is to minimize risks related to unknowns, development timelines and cost escalations. Although no site is without risks, stringent certification processes help identify and mitigate them effectively. Launched in 2012, the CSX SelectSite program was the first railroad-sponsored certification initiative designed to provide thorough site due diligence and ensure sites are rail-accessible. In response to growing demand for rail-served locations, in 2023, CSX enhanced the program by introducing four certification levels — Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. This tiered system helps companies and communities more effectively pinpoint sites that meet specific operational needs. A notable achievement under this program includes the South Alabama Megasite, which achieved certification and secured Novelis in May 2022. This partnership is expected to generate $2.5 billion in capital investment and create 1,000 jobs.140 SEPTEMBER 2024 S I T E S EL E C T I O N • Site readiness fund . This refers to the allocation of financial resources dedicated to preparing a site for development, including infrastructure improvements and environmental remediation. Workforce remains a key driver for projects, yet the focus has increasingly shifted towards sites and infrastructure due to a shortage of ready properties. Many states are now allocating significant funds to advance site development beyond traditional certification, supporting extensive improvements like grading and infrastructure extensions. In more proactive approaches, some states even allow these funds to be used for public entities to acquire sites directly. Many states are actively enhancing their site readiness through substantial grant programs. In August 2024, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) announced $126 million in grants for 23 sites through the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP). Similarly, starting in 2023, the Alabama Department of Commerce launched the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS) grants, allocating up to $30 million to develop industrial sites across both urban and rural Alabama. The initial SEEDS funding round supported 29 grant projects, preparing over 8,400 acres for development. In May 2024, Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair announced that thanks to the SEEDs initiative, the state is competing for $13.5 billion in new capital investment and has already secured $30 million in grants, leading to 14 active projects and over 5,000 potential jobs. • Marketing . Marketing involves promoting identified, evaluated, and certified sites to potential developers and investors. Site readiness initiatives offer numerous benefits, such as enhanced stakeholder engagement and strategic advantages. However, the primary objective is to market the prepared sites effectively. Regrettably, some areas that invest heavily in preparing properties fail to match that investment in marketing efforts. To aid in this, most state property databases feature filters or seals to highlight sites that have achieved specific designations. Florida First Sites, supported by Florida Power and Light, has been continuing a multi-year site readiness program in which each site receives tailored improvement recommendations and investment readiness analyses to boost competitiveness. Unique to this program is its strong emphasis on promotion. Through a partnership with a marketing agency, the program equips participants with essential tools such as property highlight sheets, maps and videos. These resources are designed to empower both FPL and local teams to effectively market the properties, enhancing their visibility and attractiveness to potential developers. Comparing site readiness programs is akin to comparing apples to oranges, and a national standard could significantly level the playing field. Addressing this gap, the Site Selectors Guild has introduced REDI (Readiness Evaluation for Development and Investment) Sites as a new benchmark for assessing site readiness for U.S. office and industrial projects. Administered by the Guild, REDI Sites offers a searchable database of rigorously assessed properties, setting a consistent standard by the world’s leading site selection consultants. Though still in its nascent stages, this program is poised to revolutionize site selection. As the site readiness landscape continues to evolve, programs are increasingly focusing on flexibility and strategic depth to enhance marketability and development potential. Maintaining properties at various stages of readiness is not only reasonable but crucial, as it aligns stakeholders and resources early, demonstrating a strong commitment to future investments. A ready site often serves as a critical incentive in today’s economic climate, highlighting the importance of rigorous due diligence, strategic funding and proactive marketing. These elements will be key to meeting the complex demands of modern industries and sustaining community development. Sarah White is Principal and Vice President of Site Selection for Global Location Strategies, a full-service site selection advisory firm based in Greenville, South Carolina. Sarah is also a member of the Site Selectors Guild, a professional association of site selection consultants.Next >