In part one of this blog series, we explored the rapid rise in electric bike (e-bike) usage and the public investments fueling this trend. E-bikes can play a crucial role in building a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable transportation system that reduces dependence on personal vehicles, a key part of GPI’s work to decarbonize the transportation sector. State rebate programs and local incentives have made e-bikes more accessible than ever. Continue reading »
Texas is entering a pivotal moment for carbon management. Growing power demand and the first wave of carbon capture and storage projects are converging in a state with world-class geology, deep energy expertise, and newly secured Class VI primacy for carbon storage permitting.
To help Texas navigate this moment with clarity and coordination, GPI has released the Texas Carbon Management Roadmap, developed with support from the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation and shaped by the input of nearly 100 Texas-based stakeholders from industry, government, labor, academia, nonprofits, and community organizations.
As we start the countdown to the end of 2025, we’re excited to share our most-read stories from the last year!
From sharing our leading research on critical energy infrastructure to highlighting community-driven clean energy solutions, we’re proud of the impact we’ve made alongside the many partners we’ve collaborated with over the past year. Continue reading »
After nearly three decades of impact-driven growth and consensus-based leadership, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is launching a national search for its next Chief Executive Officer. Continue reading »
Minnesota has a statutory net-zero emissions target for 2050, which will require emissions reductions in the industrial sector. In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency found that gas use in the industrial sector contributed to a greater share of statewide greenhouse gas emissions than gas use in residential, commercial, and electricity generation sectors. Decarbonizing industrial gas end uses is challenging due to high heat needs, specialized equipment, and cost barriers associated with alternative technologies. Continue reading »
In the November 2025 elections, energy affordability was a top-priority issue for voters nationwide, who are feeling the pressure of rising energy bills. It was a central theme in the elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia, and Virginia’s new Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger highlighted lower energy bills among the three priorities in the Affordable Virginia Plan on which she campaigned, alongside healthcare and homeownership. Continue reading »
After nearly two decades leading GPI, one of the longest-tenured nonprofit executives in Minnesota, Rolf Nordstrom announced this week that he will retire from the organization on July 31, 2026. Rolf’s time as president and CEO was transformative and was essential to defining the organization’s local and national impact, reach, and leadership in the energy and climate space. Continue reading »
The Great Plains Institute (GPI) announced today that John Lee, retired president and CEO of Barr Engineering Co., has joined its board of directors. Lee brings more than four decades of leadership and engineering experience, including overseeing Barr’s transformation into a 1,000-person firm known for its technical excellence, collaborative culture, and commitment to sustainable infrastructure and environmental innovation. Continue reading »
Across the United States, communities that have hosted coal-fired power plants for decades are now grappling with an urgent question: What comes next when those plants transition away from coal in the shift to cleaner, more affordable energy? Continue reading »
In part one of this blog series, we explored the rapid rise in electric bike (e-bike) usage and the public investments fueling this trend. E-bikes can play a key role in building a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable transportation system that reduces dependence on personal vehicles, an important part of GPI’s work to decarbonize transportation. State rebate programs and local incentives have made e-bikes more accessible than ever. Continue reading »
