Projects
Connected Communities Pilot Program
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Connected Communities funding program supports projects that expand the network of grid-interactive, efficient buildings nationwide. These buildings and communities interact with the electrical grid to optimize their energy consumption, which will reduce their carbon emissions and cut energy costs.
Avista, Edo, PNNL, and Urbanova are integrating buildings with distributed energy resources (DER), such as solar photovoltaic (PV) generation and electric vehicle charging, to support grid efficiency while meeting occupants’ comfort and needs. This program is funded by DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office, Vehicle Technologies Office, Building Technologies Office, and the Office of Electricity.
MLK Community Center – Energy Resiliency Hub
Avista Utilities and the City of Spokane are partnering with neighborhood resilience centers like the MLK Center to provide shelter and resources during climate and other emergencies. This project is designed to back the existing year-round mission of providing food bank services, childcare services, and support for families that strengthen community connections and the ability to endure extreme weather events.
Avista is an investor in Edo, a leading provider of innovative energy efficiency and demand flexibility solutions. Edo partners with utilities to transform commercial buildings into efficient, reliable contributors to the electric grid. Utilities rely on Edo’s virtual power plants and AI-driven technology to optimize thousands of buildings and aggregate distributed energy resources. Edo’s technology and expertise decrease energy consumption, reduce costs, and cut carbon emissions for a sustainable future.