Novara Energy Alliance

What Novara Energy Alliance does

Novara Energy Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization (EIN 81-4753150) headquartered at the Scott Morris Energy Center in Spokane, Washington. Formed in 2025 through the merger of Urbanova (founded 2016 as a smart-city partnership) and INTENT (launched 2023 under an NSF Regional Innovation Engine Development award), it publicly launched on May 7, 2026 with founding mission partners Avista, Itron, and McKinstry. The alliance operates as a convening platform for the Inland Northwest energy ecosystem, aligning industry, government, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and community organizations around shared energy and water priorities — including grid modernization, demand growth from data centers and electrification, extreme-weather resilience, and equitable energy access.

The alliance does not develop or sell proprietary technology. Its core offering is a five-tier membership program (Mission $50,000, Strategic $25,000, Contributing $10,000, Community $5,000, and Supporting $500–$4,000 annually) that grants members governance access, event participation, visibility and speaking opportunities, and directory placement. The business model is community-led, with revenue generated through annual membership subscriptions supplemented by grants (NSF $1M in 2023; ICAP $140K in 2025). Distribution is direct B2B membership recruitment supported by board-led referrals, a corporate website (novaraenergyalliance.org), earned regional media, a newsletter, and recurring events including the July 2025 Energy Innovation Summit and the planned October 2026 Novara Energy Summit.

The organization serves seven primary stakeholder segments: utilities and energy providers (e.g., Avista), technology and solution companies (e.g., Itron, Edo Energy), research institutions and academia (WSU, EWU, Gonzaga, PNNL, INL), local and regional government (City of Spokane, Spokane County), entrepreneurs and startups, investors and funders, and community organizations (e.g., Spokane Workforce Council). Leadership includes Interim CEO Kim Pearman-Gillman (joined February 2026) and a board chaired by Latisha Hill (Avista), with a permanent CEO search underway (application deadline May 17, 2026).

Name

Novara Energy Alliance

Legal name

Novara Energy Alliance

Website

https://novaraenergyalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Novara Energy Alliance is a Spokane-based 501(c)(3) membership nonprofit that convenes utilities, technology firms, universities, government, investors, and community organizations across the Inland Northwest to coordinate energy innovation, grid modernization, and water-related challenges through tiered membership and regional convening.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Innovation Convening Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Energy & Clean Tech Access (Off-grid, Energy Poverty Solutions) (BPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Energy innovation convening
• Nonprofit alliance membership
• Grid modernization coordination
• Regional energy ecosystem
• Innovation cluster facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Novara generates revenue through tiered annual membership fees at four named levels (Mission $50,000, Strategic $25,000, Contributing $10,000, Community $5,000) and a Supporting Member level ($500–$4,000). Membership provides governance access, event privileges, visibility, and directory placement.
2. Supporting Membership and In-Kind Contributions: Supporting Member level ($500–$4,000) is tiered by employee count for public entities, NGOs, and universities. In-kind contributions are also accepted as established by MOU.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Novara Energy Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that convenes utilities, technology firms, research institutions, government agencies, investors, entrepreneurs, and community groups in the Inland Northwest to collaborate on shared energy and water challenges. Its core paid offering is a multi-tiered annual membership program ($500–$50,000) that provides governance participation, event access, working groups, pilot/demonstration project coordination, and visibility benefits.

Product overview

Novara Energy Alliance is a membership-based non-profit organization that serves as a convening platform for energy innovation. Rather than a traditional product company, it operates through collaborative membership tiers (Mission at $50,000, Strategic at $25,000, Contributing at $10,000, Community at $5,000, and Supporting at $500-$4,000) that provide governance participation, event access, visibility benefits, and directory placement. The alliance facilitates connections across industry, government, research, and community stakeholders to address energy and water challenges in the Inland Northwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Novara Energy Alliance Membership
• Novara Energy Summit 2026

Quantifiable outcome

• Convergence of over 40 partner organizations including utilities, tech companies, universities, tribal governments, investors, and education partners through the INTENT ecosystem (2023–2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / founding mission partner, core and secondary.

• Avistaflagship / founding mission partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Avista is one of three founding mission partners of Novara Energy Alliance. Latisha Hill, Avista's VP of Community Affairs and Chief Customer Officer, serves as Board Chair of Novara. Avista is the region's primary investor-owned utility (formerly Washington Water Power, founded 1889), providing energy and water services. As founding partner, Avista contributes anchor utility expertise, community affairs leadership, and economic development initiatives. The partnership is mutual — Avista participates in governance and shapes Novara's strategic direction while benefiting from the alliance's coordination across the regional energy ecosystem.
• Itronflagship / founding mission partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Itron is one of three founding mission partners of Novara Energy Alliance. Marina Donovan, VP of Global Marketing, ESG and Public Affairs at Itron, serves as a board member. Rich Christensen, retired SVP of Global R&D at Itron, also serves on the board. Itron provides smart metering, grid management, and energy data technology solutions. As a founding partner, Itron contributes technology expertise and global market perspective to regional energy innovation efforts.
• McKinstryflagship / founding mission partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026McKinstry is one of three founding mission partners of Novara Energy Alliance. Dale Silha, Senior VP at McKinstry, serves as Board Vice Chair. McKinstry specializes in energy efficiency, renewables, and high-performance building environments across Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. As founding partner, McKinstry contributes expertise in building energy optimization and infrastructure development while benefiting from the alliance's cross-sector coordination and pipeline of innovation projects.
• Washington State Department of CommercecoreOthersWashington State Department of Commerce awarded the Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster (the predecessor entity under Urbanova and INTENT) $140,000 through the Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP) Cohort 3, funded by the Climate Commitment Act. This grant supported the July 2025 Energy Innovation Summit and cluster development.
• Washington State University (WSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSU is a key university partner in the Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster and a founding partner of Urbanova (2016). WSU contributes research capabilities, talent, and academic leadership to the alliance. WSU's involvement spans smart grid research, workforce development, and green lab certification programs.
• Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSI is the Spokane region's business development organization (serving as both Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Organization). GSI provides economic development leadership, regional coordination, and fiscal sponsorship for the Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster. GSI's Economic Development Committee was presented with the Inland Northwest cluster roadmap in July 2025.
• Edo EnergysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdo Energy is listed as a participating partner in the Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster. Edo Energy is an energy technology innovator participating in the regional ecosystem around grid modernization and clean energy solutions.
• Open Energy SolutionssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Energy Solutions is listed as a participating partner in the Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster. OES is an energy innovation company focused on solutions within the regional energy ecosystem.
• Power EngineerssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPower Engineers is listed as a participating partner in the Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster. Power Engineers is an engineering firm contributing power grid and infrastructure expertise.
• Launchpad NWsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunchpad NW is listed as a participating partner in the Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster. Launchpad NW is a startup/innovation support organization within the regional ecosystem.
• Spokane Workforce CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpokane Workforce Council is listed as a participating partner in the Inland Northwest Energy Innovation Cluster. The council contributes workforce development expertise and pathways to employment in the clean energy sector.
• City of SpokanecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Spokane was a founding partner of Urbanova (2016), one of Novara's predecessor organizations. The City contributed civic leadership and was instrumental in establishing the University District living laboratory initiative.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Advanced Energy Economy (AEE): National industry association representing advanced energy companies with policy advocacy and convening. Closely comparable to Novara's role of bridging energy businesses, utilities, and policy actors, though operating nationally rather than regionally.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Nonprofit that convenes state energy offices and clean energy stakeholders to advance clean energy policy and deployment. Directly analogous business model to Novara as a mission-driven membership/grant-funded convener in the energy space.
• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE): Nonprofit research organization that convenes researchers, policymakers, and industry around energy efficiency. Comparable to Novara as a nonprofit convening organization producing research-driven convenings and policy engagement.
• Energy Trust of Oregon: Independent nonprofit funded by a public benefits charge on Oregon utility bills to deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Comparable as a regional energy-focused nonprofit with tiered/multi-stakeholder engagement; operates in a different geography but mirrors Novara's regional model.
• Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI): Combined Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Organization serving the Spokane region; an existing Novara partner (Andy Stephenson, GSI) and serves as a comparable regional economic development convener with similar board-driven enterprise engagement.
• Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): Nonprofit that convenes electric utilities, technology providers, and policy leaders around grid modernization and clean energy. Comparable to Novara because both are membership-based energy convener organizations with utility-led boards.

Emerging players

• New Energy Nexus: Global nonprofit that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with accelerators and ecosystem-building across multiple regions. Comparable to Novara's entrepreneur/startup segment and "Innovation, Incubation & Investment" pillar.

Regional players

• Innovate Washington / NSF Engines-style Regional Cluster: Other NSF-funded Regional Innovation Engine Development award clusters (e.g., those funded alongside Novara/INTENT in Cohort) that operate regional energy/biotech innovation clusters. Directly comparable in structure and funding model, just serving different geographies and sectors.

Broad incumbents

• Energy Foundation: Major philanthropic grantee-pooled foundation that funds energy efficiency and clean energy advocacy across U.S. states. Comparable to Novara's role as a regional delivery vehicle for philanthropic and public energy funding, but operating at a broader national scale.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Independent nonprofit working at the intersection of climate and energy policy across multiple sectors. Comparable to Novara's broader mission of aligning stakeholders around energy and decarbonization, though it operates nationally on policy rather than regional pilots.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Novara Energy Alliance