SYRACUSE — BlueRock Energy, Inc. is expanding its business in the Buffalo market and is on track to push into Pennsylvania in 2013. The company added a new energy supply consultant, Tim Neal, in Buffalo in October after splitting the market into two territories because of growth. The firm now has two employees in Buffalo […]
SYRACUSE — BlueRock Energy, Inc. is expanding its business in the Buffalo market and is on track to push into Pennsylvania in 2013.
The company added a new energy supply consultant, Tim Neal, in Buffalo in October after splitting the market into two territories because of growth. The firm now has two employees in Buffalo full time.
BlueRock is a privately held energy services company. The company delivers electricity, natural gas, and green energy products to all of New York state, except Long Island.
The company targets small to medium-sized businesses says Philip Van Horne, BlueRock president and CEO. Its customer base is about 90 percent commercial with the remainder being residential clients.
Small businesses are being pushed to be more aware of their energy costs because of the continuing weak economy, Van Horne says. It’s an attitude that is driving BlueRock’s business in Buffalo and across the state.
The firm began in Syracuse and so has a slightly higher concentration of clients in Central New York, but Van Horne says customers are spread throughout the company’s footprint.
“We continue to see strong demand for what we do,” he says. “Business owners are very interested in the kinds of services we provide.”
BlueRock is nearing the end of the process to gain a license for operations in Pennsylvania, Van Horne says. Although the company may be able to start some work in the state before the end of the year, it will see the real first results from efforts there in 2013.
The firm will probably start work in central and western Pennsylvania initially, but expects to serve the whole state eventually. Van Horne says the company will have consultants living and working in each of the regions it serves in the state.
BlueRock employs 41 people currently. The company will probably add at least three people in Pennsylvania once it launches there along with two support people at its Syracuse headquarters.
The company is located in 6,700 square feet at 432 N. Franklin St. in downtown Syracuse. It has annual sales of more than $50 million.
“Even though the economy for small businesses remains pretty challenging in New York state and the Northeast … we’re staying very aggressive and we’re definitely on a growth pattern,” Van Horne says.
The firm’s goal is 30 percent growth in its annual revenue.
Van Horne started BlueRock Energy in 2006 as a new corporate direction in the deregulated energy market. In 2003, he had launched New York Energy, Inc. with his personal funds, financial help from family and friends, and investments from two partners.
New York Energy targeted large commercial and industrial companies. BlueRock shifted the focus to selling energy to small- and mid-sized business operations, including restaurants, small office buildings, nursing homes, multi-tenant apartments, manufacturers, car dealerships, and retail operations.
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