GlobeNewswire·May 12, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

Region's first microgrid begins operations at Spokane community center

Avista Utilities launched the region's first community-based microgrid at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center in East Central Spokane on May 12, 2026.
The system integrates solar power, battery storage, & natural gas to maintain operations during extended power outages caused by extreme weather or emergencies.
The microgrid will reduce the center's standard energy bills, allowing funds to be redirected toward critical community programs.
The center typically draws power from the grid while supplementing with onsite solar & battery storage; natural gas provides backup during outages lasting longer than a few hours.
Funding for the project came from Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) & the Washington State Department of Commerce.
The NCIF program was established under the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) to support energy projects benefiting communities facing challenges like extreme weather or inequities.
Avista serves 429,000 electricity customers & 386,000 natural gas customers across eastern Washington, northern Idaho, & parts of southern & eastern Oregon.
The MLK Center, founded in 1970, is a nonprofit providing social & educational services to low-income children, youth, & families in Spokane.