What if meeting growing electricity demand had another tool right there with large-scale infrastructure? Across the country, distributed capacity is gaining momentum as another way to grow the grid, driven by new industry, regulatory, and policy activity. Read more about the category's growth on our blog: sparkfund.com/sparkinsights/…

A recent American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study paper from @BerkeleyLab examines how aggregated demand flexibility can help address localized distribution constraints and finds that location plays a significant role in how helpful those resources are. It sounds obvious, but megawatts on a spreadsheet don’t help if they’re not available where the constraint exists. Utilities need distributed resources they can plan around and connect to real grid needs. Read the ACEEE paper: hubs.la/Q04xG2HH0

Grid utilization is making its way into state energy plans. 👀 Montana’s new state energy plan cites the Utilize Coalition and Brattle Group's finding that improved utilization of the existing power system could put more than $100 billion in downward pressure on customer costs over the next decade. We’re seeing an important grid idea become a practical planning tool in the places where affordability and reliability decisions are being made. Read the report: hubs.la/Q04w15lp0

Distributed batteries bring something important to the grid: proximity. @plafarge explains how batteries sited closer to load and local infrastructure can help utilities deliver capacity where it creates direct value. It is a practical reminder that the future grid will need more resources in the right places. ⚡️ Listen to the full episode: hubs.la/Q04vyWYW0

⚡ We're growing in Minnesota! Explore our 5 open roles across engineering, quality assurance, project and vendor management. Most based in MN. All focused on building the future of the distributed grid. 👉 hubs.la/Q04ty9hD0 #Hiring #EnergyJobs #CleanEnergy #MinnesotaJobs

“Scale” gets used a lot in energy. For distributed capacity, it should mean a repeatable model for finding sites, managing deployment, and coordinating vendors across many local projects. That's what turns distributed capacity from an interesting idea into a practical grid resource. We break down what distributed capacity at scale looks like in practice, including the site development, capacity accreditation, and project delivery experience needed to move from concept to utility-grade infrastructure: hubs.la/Q04sYLcb0

The Arizona Youth Climate Coalition understood the assignment.👏  Youth advocates in Tucson are pushing for climate action and doing the homework to back it up. Students developed and presented a policy report on Distributed Capacity Procurement after analyzing Tucson Electric Power reports, conducting fiscal analysis, and gathering community input.  We’re thrilled to see younger generations bringing practical grid solutions into the conversation and helping shape a stronger energy future for their communities. Get the details in @AZLuminaria: hubs.la/Q04sDJ3x0

Our own Tanuj Deora joined Julieta Giraldez @EPEConsulting's The Switch Podcast to discuss why utilities need new ways of thinking about resource adequacy and grid planning. Distributed capacity can help utilities add flexibility and build a grid ready for what comes next. Listen 👇 hubs.la/Q04r_vVR0

Grid utilization has become part of the capacity-crunch conversation. @plafarge joined Volts for a practical conversation on what it will take to meet near-term load growth without losing sight of reliability, cost, or the grid constraints utilities are managing every day. 👇 Listen to the full episode: hubs.la/Q04r92rS0

The most underused capacity resource may be the grid we’ve already built. @plafarge makes the case for using distributed batteries, load flexibility, and grid-enhancing technologies to add capacity closer to demand while reducing pressure on rates. Read @UtilityDive 👇 hubs.la/Q04qwVlB0

A team alignment session and a Twins game? That’s a solid doubleheader. ⚾️ Our programs team spent yesterday digging into department goals and the values that shape how we show up for each other, our partners, and the grid every day. Grateful for the people behind the work, and for a little time together outside the office.

The Capacity*Connect program shows how distributed capacity can benefit the grid, customers, and communities. Through our Distributed Capacity Procurement model, Xcel Energy is advancing a utility-led approach designed to improve grid performance, test emerging technology at scale, and create value while managing risk. For utilities planning around rising demand, this is the kind of practical grid innovation stakeholders have been asking for. 🤝

Capacity doesn’t appear the moment a resource is identified. It has to move through real places, timelines, and operating requirements. For distributed batteries to become a practical grid resource, utilities need a repeatable way to move from planning to execution across many local sites, coordinating siting, procurement, permitting, interconnection, and commissioning as one deployment process. That deployment discipline becomes a strategic advantage. It helps utilities add capacity closer to where the grid needs support while reducing the delivery risk that can slow infrastructure down. Learn more: hubs.la/Q04nqm6L0

🤖 Sparkfund just wrapped our first AI training cohort with Caravan AI in Birmingham, AL. We're investing in AI to automate manual work, build custom apps, and scale smarter. Big thanks to the Caravan #AI team and to this first group of internal AI champions. More cohorts coming this year. 🙌

As utilities manage rising demand, flexible capacity becomes most valuable when it can quickly relieve constraints. Hear our CEO, @plafarge, explain how distributed batteries can support that shift. 👇

The energy transition moves through policy, planning, infrastructure, and people.🤝 During the Mid-American Regulatory Conference, Sparkfund hosted a Power Hour with @USCleanPower and a Women in Energy networking event to bring together leaders across the energy community for informal conversation and connection. Grateful to everyone who joined us!

⚡ We're growing in Minnesota! Explore our 6 open roles across engineering, safety, permitting, vendor management, and client success. Most based in MN. All focused on building the future of the distributed grid. 👉 hubs.la/Q04lsYgn0 #Hiring #EnergyJobs #CleanEnergy #MinnesotaJobs

There’s a growing gap in how the grid is built, and it’s becoming more important. In @tdworldmag, our Director of System Engineering explores the “missing middle” and how FTM batteries on the distribution grid can add capacity, relieve local constraints, and be deployed in years, not decades. It’s a practical path forward for utilities facing both load growth and reliability challenges. Read here: hubs.la/Q04lpW2_0

One of the most important questions utilities are facing right now is how to add capacity and meet load growth without driving unnecessary infrastructure spending. When distributed capacity is deployed at targeted points across the grid, it can reduce pressure on transmission, distribution, and resource adequacy costs while improving system utilization. That is the value of front-of-the-meter battery infrastructure. The economics of where and how capacity gets added will matter just as much as the capacity itself. 📍 Learn more: hubs.la/Q04kDKMV0