The demand for power is growing faster than ever, reshaping how infrastructure is planned, designed, and delivered. In this Q&A, Jamil Newell, Vice President of Power Delivery at WSB, shares his perspective on what’s fueling that growth, how WSB is supporting clients through rapid change, and where the industry is headed next.
What originally drew you to power delivery work and what made you decide to build your career in this space?
I actually fell into power delivery. I’m a civil engineer by degree and originally planned to go into more traditional construction work. Around the time I entered the industry, power delivery was accelerating while construction was slowing. Once I was exposed to it, I realized how much opportunity there was and how essential this work is. I’ve been in the industry ever since and never looked back.
How do you feel about the future of power delivery given today’s economic climate?
Power delivery is in a very strong position right now. Demand for electricity continues to increase — from data centers and AI to broader population growth and development across the country. The work is there, and it’s not slowing down.
The real focus for the industry is how quickly we can scale to meet that demand. This level of growth creates opportunity, but it also requires thoughtful planning, strong engineering, and the ability to move efficiently. Overall, it’s an exciting time to be in this space.
You mentioned projects that require as much power as a city the size of Miami. What are the implications of that kind of demand on the electrical grid?
It’s something the entire industry is actively figuring out together. From a technical standpoint, it can work — but it puts pressure on how quickly generation and power delivery systems can scale. Our role in power delivery is essentially connecting the load to the source, making sure the system can keep up as demand grows.
In the short term, there’s an intense push to expand infrastructure fast enough to support projects of that size. Long term, the result is a much larger, more robust electrical system. It’s unprecedented, but it reflects how quickly technology and demand are evolving.
Power delivery is a newer service offering at WSB. Why was it important for the firm to add this capability?
Clients want fewer handoffs and more accountability. Utilities and end users are looking for partners who can support multiple workstreams — from surveying and routing to civil and electrical — within one organization.
When those services are integrated, communication improves, risk is reduced, and projects move more efficiently. Adding power delivery allows WSB to support clients in a more comprehensive way.
You joined WSB through an acquisition. What happened behind the scenes to make that transition seamless for your clients?
A lot of coordination across the firm. Every function — HR, IT, operations, technical teams — had dedicated workstreams focused on making sure nothing fell through the cracks. When that level of effort happens behind the scenes, the transition feels smooth to clients. That doesn’t happen by accident.
Were you able to retain your client base through the transition to WSB?
Yes — and many clients were excited about it. Before joining WSB, we had a limited scope and capacity. By coming into WSB, we immediately added civil, structural, surveying, and geotechnical capabilities.
Since then, we’ve continued expanding electrical capacity as well. Clients quickly saw the value and began asking how else we could support them.
What are clients navigating right now in transmission, distribution, and substation work, and how is WSB helping?
Many utilities are being asked to deliver in a single year what used to be planned over a decade. That pace puts pressure on everything — internal resources, project management bandwidth, outside partners, and even material availability, since so many organizations are building at the same time.
WSB helps by providing strong engineering and design services, along with project management support when it’s needed. During design, we stay flexible so projects can move faster — whether that means ordering materials earlier or designing around available components.
On the back end, we support construction with QA/QC and field coordination so clients have visibility and confidence throughout the process.
What excites you most about where the power delivery industry is headed?
It’s the combination of unprecedented demand and advancing technology.
Tools like artificial intelligence can help teams work more efficiently and expand what existing staff can accomplish. That’s especially valuable in an industry that’s scaling rapidly.
At the same time, the level of demand we’re seeing creates opportunity that simply didn’t exist before. It’s a moment where firms that are prepared can really grow and make an impact.
Looking ahead, what advice would you give organizations preparing to invest in power delivery projects?
Look for a partner who is technically excellent, communicates clearly, and stays engaged. The more involved your engineering partner is, the more value they bring over time. That relationship evolves from transactional to trusted — and that’s where the best outcomes emerge.
