During the grant application process, preference will be given to community-based organizations who can demonstrate that through their award electrical resiliency would be improved for the most vulnerable communities, such as, housing authority properties, health care facilities, and long-term care housing. The solar microgrids must utilize battery storage technology capable of integrating into a virtual power plant (VPP). VPPs are not brick and mortar power plants, rather, they consist of widely distributed assets like residential rooftop solar arrays and battery energy storage solutions (BESS), electric vehicle charging infrastructure, smart thermostats, and other systems that can remotely coordinate with a central command center that actively works to balance demand for energy against supply. By ensuring that the solar and battery microgrids installed under CEI are VPP compatible, VIEO will demonstrate how this technology can work at grid level to lower utility rates and increase service reliability.