How a Colorado utility plans to generate 32 megawatts by 2030
Platte River Power Authority’s Zach Borton explains the utility’s approach to building an ambitious VPP.
Podcast
Platte River Power Authority’s Zach Borton explains the utility’s approach to building an ambitious VPP.
A decade ago, Zach Borton had a lightbulb moment when studying energy economics at Ohio State University: the grid was trending toward decentralization. That realization set him on a path that would eventually lead him to Colorado, where he now serves as DER services manager at Platte River Power Authority.
Platte River’s 2024 integrated resource plan includes an ambitious goal: 32 megawatts of virtual power plant capacity by 2030. But building a VPP across multiple utility territories isn’t just about technology — it’s about coordination, customer engagement, and breaking down organizational silos.
This week on With Great Power, Zach explains the technical architecture behind Platte River’s VPP strategy, which relies on two interconnected systems: grid derms and edge derms. He also discusses the challenges of aligning five different organizations, the importance of seamless customer enrollment, and why he believes curiosity-driven leadership is his superpower in the energy transition.
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