MINNEAPOLIS — Mortenson has acquired Nor-Cal Controls, a California-based control systems provider specializing in energy management solutions, as the contractor continues to expand its footprint in the fast-growing energy sector.
The Minneapolis-based builder announced the acquisition Thursday, noting that Nor-Cal Controls brings expertise in control systems for solar, battery energy storage and microgrid applications. The move aligns with Mortenson’s broader strategy to enhance its technical capabilities and meet rising demand for energy infrastructure across the U.S.
Nor-Cal Controls, headquartered in El Dorado Hills, California, designs systems that operate at the core of energy assets, enabling them to interface with the electrical grid to store, dispatch and manage power efficiently.
Mortenson has steadily built a strong presence in the energy market, having delivered nearly 60 energy storage projects and hundreds of wind projects nationwide, according to company information. The acquisition of Nor-Cal Controls represents a continuation of that growth strategy, particularly as demand for reliable and scalable energy solutions accelerates.
“We’re a pretty significant player in the energy and infrastructure business,” Mortenson CEO Derek Cunz told Construction Dive in an interview prior to assuming the role in January 2025. “We see a definite demand for more energy, and there’s been a lot of reporting on just the growth of the energy needs of the country, so there’s more demand for power. So we see that as a strong opportunity.”
The integration of Nor-Cal Controls is expected to enhance Mortenson’s ability to deliver complex energy projects by incorporating advanced control systems expertise directly into its operations. These systems are critical to optimizing performance and reliability in renewable energy and storage assets.
“Mortenson has grown over many decades by being deliberate about how we expand and by staying grounded in our values,” Cunz said in the release. “We chose to bring Nor-Cal Controls into the Mortenson organization because of the people, their expertise in power control systems engineering, and their relentless focus on the customer.”
The acquisition reflects a wider trend among U.S. contractors pursuing mergers, acquisitions and strategic expansions to diversify services and improve project delivery capabilities.
Customers of Nor-Cal Controls will continue working with the same teams, while Mortenson clients are expected to benefit from the firm’s expanded technical capabilities in energy controls, according to the company.
Elsewhere in the industry, contractors and technology firms are making similar moves. Kansas City, Missouri-based JE Dunn recently launched Form Off-Site Solutions, a manufacturing arm focused on complex construction components and logistics. The initiative aims to improve efficiency across planning, design, engineering and delivery phases.
Meanwhile, construction technology firms are also active in the M&A space. Autodesk finalized its acquisition of Rhumbix, a startup specializing in jobsite data collection for labor and payroll tracking. In another deal, Trimble signed an agreement to acquire Document Crunch, an artificial intelligence company that analyzes construction contracts for risk factors and compliance issues.
Together, these developments underscore how both builders and technology providers are investing in new capabilities to navigate increasing project complexity, labor challenges and evolving client demands.
Originally reported by Zachary Phillips, Editor in Construction Dive.
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