Westwood’s expertise in photovoltaic (PV) system design and other renewable energy technologies will continue to develop.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Westwood Professional Services Inc. (Westwood), land and energy development consultants, announces the acquisition of Westwood Renewables, LLC, on August 9, 2010. Prior to the acquisition, Westwood held a thirty- three percent stake in the company.
“This acquisition is good business sense. Not only do we diversify our service offerings, allowing us to better serve our clients, we increase our market share with the addition of new renewable energy clients and the integration of distributed energy into our portfolio.” – Paul Greenhagen, Westwood President.
Westwood Renewables was founded in 2008 by Minnesota-based investors, brought together over 50 years of combined renewable energy design and engineering experience. Led by industry experts, Mario Monesterio and Nathan Franzen, the company quickly became prominent in the renewable energy industry constructing the region’s first large-scale single axis linear tracking solar system at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Mario Monesterio is nationally recognized for his expertise in renewable energy design and engineering. He will join Westwood as the director of the firm’s Renewables System Design group and continue to develop Westwood’s expertise in photovoltaic (PV) system design and other renewable energy technologies. Monesterio anticipates continued success at Westwood, “The acquisition allows us to better service our clients with a full suite of design and engineering services and draw from Westwood’s vast experience in the utility-scale wind and solar industry.”
Nathan Franzen will join Westwood as the director of the company’s Solar Energy business unit and focus on expanding Westwood’s national renewable energy client base in the distributed and utility-scale solar markets.
The merger is expected to go smoothly, as the two firms have partnered on the recently completed 400kW Saint John’s Solar Farm and the currently under construction 600kW Minneapolis Convention Center Rooftop Solar Project.
Greenhagen credits their partnership on Saint John’s Solar Farm as a turning point in Westwood’s solar business. “Saint John’s solar project provided Westwood an opportunity to learn all facets of PV solar integration. We worked closely with all stakeholders from the very beginning and gained knowledge that will provide added value to our clients through enhanced project designs. It would have been difficult to achieve that experience any other way.”
About
Westwood Professional Services
Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm providing complete and sustainable solutions to Land and Energy development clients nationwide. Westwood’s services include land surveying, aerial mapping, GIS, civil engineering, land rights, planning, environmental, cultural resources, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, visualization, construction management, and NPDES & SWPPP compliance. Westwood was established in 1972 and has multiple U.S. offices.
Westwood Renewables, LLC was a renewable energy design and engineering firm, established to provide comprehensive renewable energy project solutions including system analysis, site assessments, design,& engineering, construction management, system monitoring, outreach, and education services.