Atwell and NEI Electric Power Engineering Unite to Build a National Platform to Power Data Centers, Grid Modernization, and the Energy Transition

SOUTHFIELD, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Atwell today announced the acquisition of NEI Electric Power Engineering, Inc. (NEI), uniting two industry leaders to create an integrated platform for critical power and energy infrastructure. The combined team is equipped to support clients across the full project lifecycle, from site selection, routing, and development through engineering, construction support, and operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The creation of this national platform comes amid rising electricity demand driven by data center growth, electrification, and renewable energy development, trends that are placing increasing pressure on the nation’s power infrastructure and the engineering resources needed to deliver it.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, NEI is a recognized leader in transmission engineering, substation design, and power systems engineering. The firm’s more than 380 technical professionals serve utilities; renewable energy developers; industrials; hyper-scalers; engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors; and large-load infrastructure clients across 38 states.

"NEI has built a remarkable organization known for technical excellence and solving complex power engineering challenges," said Matthew C. Bissett, President and CEO of Atwell. "Demand for power is outpacing the infrastructure to deliver it, and that gap is the defining challenge facing our clients. By combining NEI's expertise in transmission, substations, renewable interconnections, and power systems engineering with Atwell's capabilities in land development, permitting, surveying, environmental, and program delivery, we can move a project from raw land to an energized grid as a single integrated team. That means helping clients modernize the grid, expand transmission networks, integrate renewable resources, and meet growing power demands, while compressing timelines the industry has long treated as fixed."

Atwell and NEI have successfully partnered on projects for more than a decade, giving the combined firm a proven working relationship and a delivery model built to reduce risk on complex infrastructure programs.

"Joining Atwell represents an exciting opportunity for our employees, clients, and the future of our business," said Clifton Oertli, President and CEO of NEI. "For more than four decades, NEI has built its reputation on industry-leading expertise, trusted client relationships, and a commitment to delivering solutions through adaptation, collaboration, and innovation. Atwell shares those values. Our clients will continue working with the same trusted teams while gaining access to expanded resources, additional services, and a nationwide network of expertise."

The combined platform positions Atwell among the leading firms serving the fastest-growing segments of the power and energy market, from data center development to grid modernization and transmission expansion across North America. Moreover, it will drive the Atwell flywheel across land development and infrastructure, where projects benefit from similar expertise.

For Atwell, Morrissey Goodale served as financial advisor, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel. For NEI, Black Iron Advisers served as financial advisor, and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP served as legal counsel.

About Atwell

Atwell, LLC is a national consulting, engineering, and construction services firm with more than 2,500 professionals. Creating innovative solutions for clients in industries such as real estate and land development, power and energy, hydrocarbons, and infrastructure, Atwell provides comprehensive turnkey services including land and right-of-way support, planning, landscape architecture, engineering, land surveying, environmental compliance and permitting, natural resources consulting, and project and program management.

About NEI Electric Power Engineering

NEI Electric Power Engineering (NEI) is a multidisciplinary consulting and engineering firm specializing in electrical infrastructure for utility, renewable energy, and industrial clients. Founded in 1982, NEI provides planning, engineering, system studies, protection and controls, substation, transmission, and grid integration services that help clients develop, modernize, and operate critical power infrastructure. Combining deep technical expertise with an AI-enabled, human-led approach, NEI delivers practical solutions that improve project outcomes while maintaining the quality and judgment of experienced engineers. Guided by its mission of Electrical Infrastructure for a Better Tomorrow and its core values of Serving Clients, Enriching Environment, Improving Continually, and Delivering Quality, NEI supports clients across North America and internationally from its headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado.