Challenges
Tight timelines and regulatory hurdles
Ben E. Keith, a 120-year-old food and beverage distributor based in Texas, needed a reliable, clean energy solution to lock in energy costs for their new cold-chain logistics facility outside Gainesville, Florida. The construction timeline was tight, with the building scheduled for completion by September 2026. Additionally, Florida’s cooperative municipal utility system imposed a 1MW project cap, even though the economically optimal system is 1.8 MW. Federal tax credit uncertainty also added complexity to the project, as start-of-construction rules and ITC compliance were critical factors for project bankability.
Outcome and Impact
VECKTA accelerated the development timeline and delivered bids 20% below market averages on a $/W basis
Ben E. Keith successfully contracted a 1.8MW rooftop solar installation through VECKTA’s comprehensive development and procurement platform. VECKTA also provided advisory services to navigate utility limitations, insurance requirements, and a rapidly changing federal tax policy. The combination of technical expertise, procurement management, and risk management enabled Ben E. Keith to confidently move forward with a significant solar investment, the first for the foods division.
- Timeline Efficiency: Achieved a signed contract in 2 quarters from the time of LOI.
- Cost Optimization: Modeled a right-sized system to avoid diminishing returns from excess generation.
- Risk Mitigation: Successfully navigated tax credit uncertainty, tariff risks, greenfield construction timeline, and insurance requirements.
- Annual Savings: $200,000 in yearly projected energy cost savings.
- Competitive Process: Secured multiple qualified bids ensuring market-competitive pricing
Lower bids than market
Delivery of optimal configuration
Lifetime utility cost savings
VECKTA took ownership of the entire process and de-risked it for us at every turn. They worked behind the scenes and only pulled me in when needed to make quick, well-informed decisions. I felt confident we were making good decisions at every step, even while the market was dramatically changing around us
VECKTA Solution
Optimal Energy System Configuration
A detailed assessment of onsite energy was conducted using VECKTA’s platform to evaluate the solar and battery opportunities for the facility. This comprehensive analysis delivered a thorough business case that identified the ROI-optimal solar system (1.8MW). The assessment included a sensitivity analysis that demonstrated improved payback periods when accounting for anticipated utility rate increases, strengthening the economic case for the project. VECKTA’s transparent and intuitive process ensured stakeholder support was successfully built across multiple organizational levels. This broad organizational understanding of and commitment to the solar initiative ensured an efficient, transparent, and quick procurement process.
Competitive Developer Selection
VECKTA leveraged its Supplier Network to launch a competitive RFP around Ben E. Keith’s project: Drawing in national, regional, and local developers with the expertise to tackle the project’s unique challenges and reveal the competitive market price of the asset.
Ultimately, VECKTA recommended four top bids from EPCs with experience deploying projects of this scale within Florida’s cooperative municipal utility system, including navigating Federal Energy Regulatory Commission qualified facility status requirements. Solar Impact, a local developer with a history of excellent references, was awarded the project by the Ben E. Keith team.
Contract Negotiation and Risk Management
VECKTA handled extensive coordination across multiple stakeholders, compressed timelines, and technical complexities while keeping decision-making straightforward for the client.
The team proactively managed multiple risk factors:
- Federal tax policy: Ongoing monitoring and advisory through ITC changes tied to the OBBB Act and related legislative uncertainty.
- Equipment pricing: Structured payment milestones to lock in fixed pricing despite tariff volatility.
- Insurance compliance: Resolved FM Global’s restrictive hail requirements for Florida installations, and ensured that selected panels will not adversely affect non-project-related premiums.
- Regulatory approval: Ensured compliance with complex interconnection rules for systems exceeding 1MW
