
Jacobs has been chosen as the Program Manager and Owner’s Engineer to assist Xcel Energy in delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective energy while supporting its transition to a low-carbon future. Xcel Energy supplies electricity to millions of homes and businesses across eight states in the Western and Midwestern U.S. To meet future energy demands, the company is expanding its capital program and partnering with Jacobs to set up a Central Program Office and Major Projects Group.
This collaboration will help manage a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of projects. Jacobs will oversee various Xcel Energy initiatives, provide recommendations for project selection, and implement standardized processes. The company will also share best practices with Xcel Energy employees, ensuring consistency in delivering transmission, distribution, and generation projects.
Jacobs Executive Vice President Fiachra Ó Cléirigh, said in a statement, “This program continues Jacobs’ relationship with Xcel Energy in delivering capital projects, upgrading utility infrastructure and supporting future load demand requirements. Our transmission and distribution, generation and program management experience across the U.S., U.K., and Asia-Pacific will support Xcel Energy as they provide reliable energy services for their consumers.”
Michael Lamb, Xcel Energy Senior Vice President of Customer Delivery, stated “In October 2024, Xcel Energy announced a $45 billion investment plan to make our grid cleaner, stronger and more efficient, ensuring we can meet unprecedented growth in our customers’ demand for electricity while keeping their bills as low as possible. Our country’s energy grid faces the biggest transition in a century. We will meet this historic moment by powering new technologies, U.S. manufacturing expansion, and the electrification of vehicles, homes and businesses.”
Xcel Energy is investing in strengthening its transmission and distribution systems while expanding its use of carbon-free and reliable energy sources. This ensures customers receive energy whenever and wherever they need it. This initiative adds to Jacobs’ growing portfolio of program management and owner’s engineer roles in the energy sector.
The company is also serving as the program manager for California’s hydrogen hub, ARCHES, and providing engineering services for MTerra Solar in the Philippines, which is set to become one of the world’s largest solar farms. Jacobs continues to be a leader in the industry, ranking No. 1 for the fourth year in a row on Engineering News-Record’s global Top 50 Program Management Firms list and No. 2 in Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power in 2024.