Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue grew 5% year over year, reflecting robust execution across the project portfolio and sustained momentum in the energy asset segment [14][15] - Adjusted EBITDA increased 13% from the prior year, driven by higher project margins and disciplined operating cost management [14][17] - Net income attributable to common shareholders was $18.5 million, with both GAAP and non-GAAP EPS at $0.35 [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Projects revenue grew 6%, supported by strong results from the European joint venture with CINEL [14] - Energy asset revenue also grew 6%, driven largely by the growth of the operating assets portfolio, with an additional 16 megawatts placed into operation during the quarter [15][17] - Recurring O&M revenue increased by 8% as the company continues to win more long-term O&M business [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total project backlog increased to $5.1 billion, with a contracted project backlog up 33% to $2.5 billion [15] - The company secured $450 million in new project awards this quarter and converted $467 million of awards into signed contracts [15] - The energy asset side of the business is seeing significant growth, with firm generation assets and battery storage becoming a larger portion of the assets in development [7][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on energy infrastructure solutions, with significant demand from various sectors including data centers, industrials, and utilities [4][5] - Ameresco's business model allows for tailored financial solutions, providing a competitive advantage over traditional engineering and construction firms [5][6] - The company aims for long-term growth targets of 10% revenue and 20% adjusted EBITDA, supported by favorable industry dynamics [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining operations with minimal disruption despite anticipated federal government shutdowns [12] - The company does not expect a material impact on Q4 results from the government shutdown, reaffirming its guidance for 2025 [19] - Strong year-to-date performance and robust demand in energy infrastructure provide solid momentum as the year-end approaches [19] Other Important Information - The company closed the quarter with approximately $95 million in cash and $340 million in total corporate debt, maintaining a debt-to-EBITDA leverage ratio of 3.2 times [17][18] - The company secured approximately $180 million in new project financing commitments during the quarter [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Opportunities in data centers - The company is focusing on energy infrastructure for data centers, similar to the Lemoore project, and expects to see more projects materialize [23][24] Question: Size of commitment for projects - The total opportunity for the Lemoore project could be as large as 350 megawatts, with details on CapEx figures not yet disclosed [25] Question: Impact of government shutdown on projects - The federal government represents only 20% of the business, so any delays in contract execution will not have a significant impact on overall revenue [39] Question: Engineering construction differences for data centers - The work for data centers is similar to federal projects, with larger opportunities and quicker needs, but no significant differences in project development [43][44] Question: Battery procurement and supply chain - The company is diversifying its supply chain for batteries and is optimistic about the cost of batteries coming down, which may create a natural hedge against potential tariffs [48][49]