The evolution of Novara Energy Alliance begins with two pioneering organizations—Urbanova and INTENT—each born from the Inland Northwest’s tradition of collaboration, innovation and community purpose. Their paths converged to form a unified energy innovation cluster designed to advance a cleaner, more resilient future for all.
2016–2018
Urbanova’s Smart City Roots
Urbanova was founded in 2016 as one of the nation’s first smart city partnerships, bringing together Avista, the City of Spokane, Itron, McKinstry, and Washington State University. The partners shared a bold vision: to create a “living laboratory” in Spokane’s University District where data and technology could be tested to improve the quality of urban life. Early projects explored everything from smart streetlights and air-quality sensors to neighborhood well-being studies, including one of the first uses of the Gallup Well-Being Index at the neighborhood level. Urbanova’s approach was distinct—it didn’t chase technology for its own sake but focused on how innovation could enhance human and community outcomes.
2019–2021
Expanding Purpose and Partnerships
By 2019, Urbanova had proven the staying power of its collaborative model. The organization began turning from infrastructure toward insight—asking how technology could serve residents equitably. Through projects like the Shared Energy Economy Model (WA Commerce) and the Connected Communities initiative (DOE), Urbanova helped shape the national conversation about inclusive innovation.
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, Urbanova’s focus deepened around connection, well-being, and community trust—reinforcing the belief that the best technology starts with people. Its ongoing partnerships with universities, industry, and civic leaders helped sustain Spokane’s leadership in data-driven community innovation.
2023-2024
The Launch of INTENT
In 2023, that same collaborative DNA fueled the creation of INTENT (the Inland Northwest Center for Energy and Decarbonization), a regional initiative launched under a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engine Development award. Urbanova served as the award recipient, and INTENT was established as an operational hub to coordinate the region’s growing energy innovation ecosystem.
INTENT convened over 40 partners—from Avista and Accenture to energy innovators like Open Energy Solutions and Edo Energy to universities, economic development and workforce organizations— working together to create a framework for cross-sector energy solutions, community energy incubators, microgrid testbeds, workforce pathways, and governance models.
2024–present
From Collaboration to Organization
As this NSF-supported development work matured, it became clear that the region needed a single, enduring organization to carry the mission forward. Urbanova’s strength as a trusted civic convenor and INTENT’s momentum as an industry integrator made them natural partners. In 2025, both boards voted to merge, aligning under a shared vision: to position the Inland Northwest as a national model for energy innovation and grid modernization. The merged entity—Novara Energy Alliance—was established to unify partners, attract investment, and accelerate solutions that connect people, power, and place.
In 2024, Urbanova and INTENT jointly pursued the Washington State Department of Commerce Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program (ICAP Cohort 3). The ICAP award supported a two-day Energy Innovation Summit in July 2025 that gathered more than fifty contributors from utilities, research institutions, tribal governments, investors, and education partners. The summit produced a shared roadmap focused on three pillars: Industry & Research, Workforce & STEM, and Innovation, Incubation & Investment.