Spark AI helps energy infrastructure developers cut through permitting red tape. Today, we’re announcing a new feature that tracks local opposition through social media.

Just Released: Social Media Sentiment 👥

Every infrastructure developer has a nightmare of showing up to a town hall meeting in the permitting process, only to be yelled at by locals or see their projects get berated online by communities. If you’ve ever been surprised by sudden local pushback, chances are the warning signs were already there.

Communities organize online first. Facebook groups, shared articles, and comment threads. Now, developers can start community engagement early, understand how sentiment evolves online, and act before opposition becomes formal.

Why It Matters for Developers

Local pushback against new projects often begins quietly on social media well before it reaches a town hall. As of 2023, 121 local ordinances across 31 states now block or constrain wind and solar farms (an 18% increase since 2021). One major driver is misinformation spreading in Facebook groups, which fuels community fear and NIMBYism. The stakes are high: An estimated $98 billion in data center projects were blocked or delayed in a single quarter amid local opposition. Battery storage projects are often cancelled after public outcry over safety and fire hazards.

What Spark’s Social Sentiment Delivers

• Community Insights: Identify active Facebook groups and local forums discussing energy projects in your target counties.

• Engagement Signals: Track posts, news shares, comments, and engagement levels to gauge what’s catching the public’s attention.

• Sentiment Analysis: See at a glance whether community chatter skews positive, neutral, or negative on a proposed project.

• Source Links: Click through directly to original posts and comment threads to read or respond where appropriate.

Our goal is that, armed with these insights, you can engage communities earlier, address misconceptions, and build support before small online complaints grow into organized opposition movements. By tapping into the local social media pulse, Spark AI helps de-risk your projects and foster better community relationships — a win-win for developers and the public.

To our existing users: We’re excited to see how you’ll put this new capability to work. For those interested in seeing Spark at work, let’s find time for a demo!

We were also recently featured on Y Combinator for our data center permitting & sentiment analysis. A special thank you to our customer Cypress Creek Renewables, for being early adopters of this functionality.