State-by-State Strategy for U.S. Renewables Growth

About the Client

A mid-sized U.S.-based energy company specializing in utility-scale renewable projects approached Nexus as they explored expansion into new states. They had a strong presence in the Midwest and were now considering growth into the Southeast and Southwest but needed a clearer picture of local market dynamics, regulatory risk, and how competitors were positioning themselves.

The Challenge

Patchy Market Intelligence

Each state had a different regulatory environment, incentive structure, and grid reliability issue. The client’s internal team had limited knowledge of how decision-making worked on the ground, especially when it came to permitting, utility partnerships, and local procurement.

Uncertainty Around Competitive Activity

The company didn’t know which regional developers were quietly gaining traction or how competitors were winning utility contracts or long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Most available data was outdated or too high-level.

Our Approach

Screening Local Experts with Firsthand Knowledge

We built a custom panel of former utility executives, regional energy developers, and local policy advisors across the target states. We focused on individuals who had worked directly with siting, permitting, or renewable procurement.

Structured Interviews Focused on Expansion Questions

Our team ran in-depth conversations exploring market entry barriers, state-by-state policy shifts, utility buying behavior, and where competitors had an edge, whether through local relationships, pricing, or reputation.

Competitive Positioning Snapshot

We included expert commentary on regional players. We considered factors such as the growth trajectory of regional players, their stagnation, and their proven ability to secure deals from local planning boards or utility evaluations.

Clear Insight Pack for Strategy Team

We turned the findings into a straightforward report with risk and opportunity breakdowns by state. We highlighted top regions with near-term potential, flagged hidden permitting slowdowns, and summarized competitor go-to-market strategies.

Results & Impact

With real, localized insights in hand, the client:

Reduced their expansion timeline by 25% by avoiding regulatory bottlenecks in two states.
Redirected 60% of their allocated budget toward higher-potential regions identified through our expert panel.
Increased their PPA proposal win rate by 30% in one target state after adjusting their pricing and partner approach based on competitor feedback.
Avoided entering one market entirely, saving an estimated $2.4M in upfront site development and legal costs.

The client now uses Nexus as a strategic insight partner anytime they enter a new regional market or evaluate shifting dynamics in renewable energy development.

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