On sunny days in the Hill Country, Tom Cook taps open an app on his phone and watches the power generated from the solar panels on his roof flow to his home — and out to the state power grid.

A panel at RE+ Northeast 2025 discussed ways to maximize the value of virtual power plants so everyone on the grid wins.

As it gets more expensive and costly to build traditional power plants and electric distribution systems, so-called “virtual power plants” could play an increasingly important role in meeting Minnesota’s clean energy goals.

Following 105 policy actions nationwide last year, 2025 could see continued momentum as load begins to grow, the NC Clean Energy Technology Center and the Smart Electric Power Alliance say.