Legislation passed in Minnesota earlier this year to incentivize a new solar permitting tool called “SolarAPP+” that offers direct financial benefits to homeowners, local governments, and Minnesota’s growing solar industry. Continue reading »
Expanding Solar Access to Underserved Communities Through SolSmart: A Solar Equity Case Study
July 16, 2024 in Renewable Energy Authors: Maya Chilcote, Val Stori
A new report by GPI staff for the national SolSmart program, Expanding Solar Access to Underserved Communities Through SolSmart, focuses on centering solar equity as a key principle of solar programs and policies. Centering solar equity will not only make solar energy more accessible but also distribute meaningful benefits to disadvantaged communities. Continue reading »
Issue Brief Outlines Hydrogen Transportation Barriers
June 13, 2024 in Renewable Energy Authors: Dreek Morgan, Val Stori
As the world’s energy landscape evolves, clean hydrogen emerges as a promising solution for achieving clean, net-zero carbon energy. Hydrogen transportation has also emerged as a key challenge to address in the energy space. A new issue brief from a work group of the Hydrogen Economy Collaborative (HEC), convened by GPI, focuses on these challenges and highlights opportunities to address them. Continue reading »
Transmission Permitting and Siting Takes an Exciting and Critical Step Forward in Minnesota
June 12, 2024 in Energy Systems Author: Matt Prorok
High-voltage electric transmission may not be the most exhilarating component of accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy. However, it’s certainly one of the most important and, unfortunately, one in the most need of new ideas, attitudes, and solutions for how we build it. Continue reading »
La Crescent Achieves First SolSmart Platinum Designation in Minnesota
June 11, 2024 in News & Press, Renewable Energy Authors: Dreek Morgan, Sydne Tursky
La Crescent is the first city in Minnesota and the fourth municipality nationwide to achieve SolSmart Platinum designation. To achieve Platinum, La Crescent took action to increase solar readiness in their community and adopted an automated solar permitting platform. Continue reading »
Report Provides Model for Underserved Small Businesses to Equitably Access Rooftop Solar in the Twin Cities
June 3, 2024 in Communities Authors: Aaron Backs, Diana McKeown
Photo by Brandon Stengel for BWBR Architects, Inc (www.bwbr.com)
The Great Plains Institute (GPI), along with our project partners, is excited to share a new report for a project focused on creating a model to overcome the significant barriers for underserved Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)- and immigrant-owned small businesses to access rooftop solar energy. Continue reading »
Unpacking the New EPA Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Rule
May 31, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: M. Moaz Uddin
This spring, the US Environmental Protection Agency marked a significant advancement toward achieving air quality improvements across the country by establishing the most stringent greenhouse gas regulations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to date. The new standards address the critical need to reduce emissions from these vehicles. Continue reading »
Statement: GPI Partners with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on Federally Funded Renewable Energy Initiative
May 8, 2024 in News & Press Author: Drew Henry
The Great Plains Institute is collaborating with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension & Outreach, recipients of a $1.7 million grant from the US Department of Energy through the R-STEP program, to guide Iowa communities in making informed decisions on large-scale renewable energy projects. Continue reading »
GPI Defines Local Siting Standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems
May 6, 2024 in Renewable Energy Author: Brian Ross
Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) will play a critical role in clean energy deployment, yet much is unknown at the local level about how to site these facilities. GPI recently rolled out a framework for local governments and community planners in an article published in the American Planning Association’s Zoning Practice. Continue reading »
Nine Minnesota Cities Receive First Charging Smart Designations in the Nation
May 1, 2024 in Communities Author: Mackenzie Love
Minnesota cities have been working hard to prepare for transportation electrification, and GPI is proud that nine of them are the first in the nation to be designated as Charging Smart communities! Continue reading »
