Reflecting on Virtual Power Plants: A Vision for Resilient Communities and a Thriving Ecosystem
Over the last two years, I’ve attended numerous national conferences and spent 20–30 hours each week in dialogue about the importance of accessible and reliable energy—for the resilience of our cities and the well-being of our people. For more than a decade, I’ve worked to connect thousands of New Yorkers—especially those historically overlooked—to meaningful employment opportunities they wouldn’t have reached alone.
These conversations have left me contemplating urgent questions about progress and justice:
Do we begin with the end in mind?
Do we enrich the universe by staying the course?
These aren’t just philosophical reflections—they are practical imperatives. Because while Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) promise an extraordinary technological leap, the greater challenge is ensuring that everyone has a place in that future—especially those still struggling to meet their basic needs.
What Are Virtual Power Plants?
VPPs are a real and ready solution. By aggregating distributed energy resources (DERs)—rooftop solar, battery storage, EV chargers, and smart appliances—they turn homes and small businesses into active participants in the energy system.
This isn’t futuristic thinking. It’s already happening across 27 states. VPPs reduce emissions, stabilize the grid, lower consumer costs, and make our communities more resilient during extreme weather and blackouts.
Technologically, we can do this. We are doing this. The question is: who’s included in the transformation—and who’s left behind?
Key Players and Momentum
A growing coalition is accelerating this vision:
• The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) recently released a practical guide for regulators on how to implement DER aggregation, offering tools for community-based energy planning. • Federal support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act is helping everyday families access solar panels, batteries, and weatherization upgrades—improving home comfort, reducing utility bills, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. • The Virtual Power Plant Partnership (VP3) is pioneering utility-focused case studies and creating accessible policy frameworks, showing how VPPs can meet climate goals while strengthening community ownership.
Across the country, government, utilities, and nonprofits are actively shaping the VPP landscape—bringing together technical innovation, market design, and public policy to reimagine how we generate and share power. The key now is to make sure this transformation centers community voice, labor equity, and long-term investment in the places that need it most.
Innovation Without Inclusion Is Not Enough
Clean tech will not save us if it isn’t rooted in equity. We cannot pat ourselves on the back for deploying advanced energy systems while millions of people still live paycheck to paycheck, in inefficient homes, with no access to workforce pipelines or clean air.
The advancement of technology must move in lockstep with job stability and the creation of real economic opportunities. This is not a nice-to-have—it’s the only way forward.
And I know this firsthand. For over a decade, I’ve helped thousands of New Yorkers access training, gainful employment, and entrepreneurial support. From MWBE contractors to young people entering the trades, I’ve seen the power of opportunity to change lives. When we pair VPP rollouts with workforce investment and local hiring, we generate more than kilowatts—we generate dignity, purpose, and economic freedom.
Let’s be honest: how often do we see the scope of work change just minutes before submission—and the first thing to disappear is the community line item?
The workshops, the language access, the local partnerships, the public education, the trust-building work that takes time and heart—gone. Not because it’s unimportant, but because it’s seen as expendable when budgets tighten and deadlines loom.
But here’s the truth: if we keep cutting community out of the process, we’ll keep reproducing the same inequities we claim to be solving. Technology alone won’t build trust. Resilience isn’t a line item—it’s a relationship.
These projects must bring jobs into the communities they touch—in every shape and form:
Mentorship programs that connect seasoned professionals with emerging talent
Apprenticeships that blend hands-on experience with classroom learning
Internships that introduce young people to the energy economy early in life
Career pathway programs that move people from entry-level roles to leadership positions
Workforce training aligned with actual job openings and future labor needs
Skills advancement initiatives that prepare workers for the realities of automation and innovation
Professional certification programs that validate and increase earning potential
And most importantly, long-term employment strategies that prioritize zip codes historically left behind
It’s especially urgent when you consider that many of these projects are prioritized for pilot implementation in frontline communities—the very neighborhoods most impacted by pollution, disinvestment, and job loss. These communities are often selected precisely because they’ve borne the brunt of past harm, yet they are too often excluded from the benefits of the new solutions meant to serve them.
If we’re going to test our most ambitious ideas here, then we have a responsibility to make these communities full partners in the process—not just test subjects.
Innovation without justice is exploitation. A just transition means investing in people with the same urgency and intentionality that we invest in infrastructure.
Why VPPs Matter—To People, Plants, and Place
Done right, Virtual Power Plants deliver layered benefits:
• Energy Resilience: Local energy keeps communities running through outages and climate emergencies • Lower Bills: Efficient energy management reduces monthly costs for families • Healthier Environments: Fewer fossil fuels means cleaner air, thriving green spaces, and safer habitats for local wildlife • Community Wealth: VPPs unlock new revenue models and ownership opportunities for the neighborhoods they serve
But none of this happens by accident. It requires intentional design—policy that centers justice, procurement that favors local labor, and infrastructure that reflects the priorities of the people who live with it.
The Bigger Picture: Power Rooted in Relationship
The truth is, we have the tools. We have the tech. We even have the funding. What we need now is a shared commitment to ensure the future of energy is built with people—not just around them.
Because it’s not just about powering homes—it’s about empowering lives. It’s not just about reducing emissions—it’s about reducing exclusion. It’s about acknowledging that the communities hit hardest by climate change have long been left out of climate solutions.
So, can we build systems that regenerate what has been depleted? Can we share power—literally and figuratively? Can we stay the course, not only for innovation’s sake—but for justice, healing, and belonging?
I believe we can. But only if we do it together—deliberately, courageously, and with the community at the center of every design.