Baker Electric is proud to announce that the Ventasso Battery Energy Storage System in El Cajon, California, has earned an Award of Merit in the Energy/Industrial category as part of ENR West’s 2026 California Best Projects competition.
The recognition celebrates more than a successful project. It highlights the increasingly important role battery energy storage plays in strengthening California’s energy infrastructure and Baker Electric’s ability to deliver the complex electrical systems that help make that transition possible.
Building a More Reliable Energy Future
California continues to add renewable energy resources, creating an equally important need to store that energy and make it available when demand is highest.
The Ventasso Battery Energy Storage System is designed to help meet that challenge. By storing energy for use during periods of peak demand, the project will help support a cleaner, more resilient electrical grid and provide reliable power when homes and businesses need it most.
Once complete, Ventasso will have the ability to support thousands of homes during high-demand periods, helping keep essential systems running when the grid is under greater pressure.
For Baker Electric, that makes Ventasso more than an energy project. It represents the type of infrastructure investment that can have a lasting impact on communities across Southern California.
Recognized for Construction Excellence
ENR West’s Regional Best Projects competition is one of the construction industry’s respected regional awards programs. For 2026, an independent panel of architecture, engineering and construction professionals reviewed 131 projects from California and Hawaii, selecting 29 Best Projects and 32 Awards of Merit. Projects were evaluated on factors including overcoming project challenges, contributions to the industry and community, safety, and construction and design quality.
Ventasso was selected for an Award of Merit in the Southern California Energy/Industrial category, with Baker Electric & Renewables listed as the submitting company.
That recognition reflects the planning, collaboration, technical expertise and field execution required to deliver increasingly sophisticated energy infrastructure.
Expertise Built for the Energy Transition
Battery energy storage projects require the coordination of complex electrical systems, specialized equipment, controls, utility requirements and commissioning activities, all while maintaining an uncompromising focus on safety and quality.
Baker brings deep electrical construction and renewable energy experience to these projects, helping customers connect generation, storage and critical infrastructure through a coordinated approach.
As demand for renewable generation, battery storage and grid modernization continues to grow, projects like Ventasso demonstrate how electrical contractors can play a critical role in turning energy strategy into functioning infrastructure.
Recognition That Belongs to the Team
The ENR Award of Merit is ultimately a reflection of the people behind the project.
From preconstruction and project management to field leadership and installation, successful energy projects depend on teams working together toward a common objective.
Ventasso demonstrates what Baker teams do every day: solve complex challenges, collaborate across disciplines and safely deliver infrastructure designed to perform for years to come.
We are proud of everyone who contributed to the Ventasso project and grateful to ENR West for recognizing the work.
Powering What Comes Next
Ventasso represents another important step in Baker Electric’s continued work across renewable energy and battery energy storage.
More importantly, it demonstrates what is possible when experience, innovation and strong project execution come together to support a more reliable energy future.
Congratulations to the entire Ventasso team on this well-earned recognition.
One Baker. One standard of excellence. Building the future of energy.
