The Great Plains Institute (GPI) and Hispanics in Energy (HIE) have joined forces in a strategic partnership to expand opportunities for Hispanic Americans in the energy sector. This collaboration combines HIE’s expertise in advocacy for Hispanic inclusion with GPI’s research ability to highlight Hispanic Americans’ contributions to energy and identify ways to unlock their full potential to support progress toward a carbon-free economy. Continue reading »
The Hydrogen Economy Collaborative (HEC) is a network of state agencies, researchers, environmental nonprofit organizations, and industry professionals working to advance the role of low-carbon hydrogen in the clean energy transition. GPI facilitates the HEC as a platform to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing on policy, technology, and market developments to advance low-carbon hydrogen adoption. Continue reading »
As of January 23, 2025, the unofficial pre-publication rules are no longer available to view online and have not been published in the Federal Register. As the rules were not finalized prior to the administration change, it is yet to be determined whether they will be published as-is or revised.
The US Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to enhance safety standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines. Given the important and complementary role that carbon management technologies will play in meeting net-zero emissions targets and the expected expansion of CO2 pipeline infrastructure, this notice is a welcome development for safe and responsible deployment. Continue reading »
“In the 50-year history of the Minnesota Regional Development Commission’s network, until now, we have never collectively realized the authentic relationships with state agencies and philanthropy partners in the space of climate mitigation,” shares Cheryal Hills, executive director of the Region Five Development Commission in Central Minnesota and member of a GPI-led peer network. Continue reading »
Free Technical Assistance Now Available to Local Governments in All 50 States
Washington, D.C. (Jan. 14, 2025) — Charging Smart, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded technical assistance and designation program, is now available in all fifty U.S. states. Charging Smart offers free technical assistance to help local governments accelerate the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure. Continue reading »
The Big Lake agrivoltaics project in Minnesota, led by US Solar in partnership with The Food Group, NREL, Connexus Energy, and GPI, demonstrates how renewable energy can coexist with sustainable agriculture to benefit communities.
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To achieve clean energy goals across the US, communities of all types and sizes must be part of the collective solution. While federal policies and programs provide critical support, the work of communities is the foundation of continuing sustained progress and realizing the numerous benefits of the clean energy transition at the local level. Continue reading »
MINNEAPOLIS – The Great Plains Institute (GPI) announced today that Christa Velasquez, a distinguished pioneer in philanthropic impact investing, has joined its board of directors. Velasquez brings over 25 years of experience in impact investing and philanthropic grantmaking to underinvested communities. She is currently consulting with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and is also a lecturer at the University of Chicago, educating the next generation of talent devoted to the common good. Continue reading »
As electric vehicles become a vital part of the transportation landscape, it is crucial to ensure that communities are equipped to effectively implement electric vehicle infrastructure. For communities with fewer resources, especially those that are smaller and rural, additional support is essential to ensure they have the capacity to develop this infrastructure. Continue reading »
A successful and equitable energy transition cannot be achieved without supporting the communities that have powered our economy for over a century by hosting essential fossil fuel infrastructure. Across the United States, dozens of coal-fired power plants have been retired in the shift to cleaner, more affordable sources of energy, and dozens more are scheduled to retire by the end of the decade. Continue reading »
