Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), the Minnesota statewide partnership to support community-based clean energy projects, is now accepting applications for seed grants for 2024! Applications are due at noon on October 10, 2023, and projects will be conducted from January 2024 through January 2025. Read the request for proposal for the full criteria and eligibility. Continue reading »
Although less than a quarter of Americans know much about the Inflation Reduction Act even a year later, it still has the potential to improve people’s lives and transform our energy system and economy for the better. Whether we will realize the full potential of this historic legislation depends on how we approach public engagement, who is at the proverbial table, and what outcomes we’re optimizing for. Continue reading »
July 11, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute (GPI) is requesting proposals to help fill the literacy gap about electric mobility among low-income, historically marginalized groups, and other underserved communities in the Twin Cities. Continue reading »
Since 2016, the federal SolSmart program has helped 500 communities become solar ready. Now, the program is aiming to designate 500 more communities over the next few years. The Great Plains Institute is a SolSmart liaison. Through our recruitment efforts, we’ve helped about 100 communities become solar ready. Most recently, we helped Minnetonka, Minnesota, achieve Bronze designation in the program’s new phase. Continue reading »
Despite the national and state momentum and the consistent support from the growing Future Fuels Coalition, the proposed Minnesota clean transportation standard did not pass during the state’s recently adjourned legislative session. Yet progress will continue this summer thanks to legislation requiring the establishment of a working group on a clean transportation standard in the state. Continue reading »
Minnesota legislators and advocates seized a unique opportunity this spring to pass transformative clean energy and climate policy that will jump-start the state’s transition to a lower-carbon economy. The state’s legislative session adjourned on May 22, and it was a busy few months at the Capitol. The state’s historic budget surplus, unified Democrat-Farmer-Labor (DFL) control of state government, and significant federal investments in clean energy set the stage for ambitious policymaking in 2023. Continue reading »
MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute (GPI) released the following statement by President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom on GPI becoming a founding member of the Minnesota Cleantech Consortium, which was announced this week via a launch coinciding with the inaugural Minnesota Cleantech Innovation Day: Continue reading »
Between good-natured jabs about which state has the better trail system and shared enthusiasm for supporting their communities, 24 local governments from Michigan and Ohio became the first cohort in the novel EV Smart program. EV Smart is a technical assistance program focused on electric vehicle (EV) readiness for local governments. This first cohort was facilitated by Great Plains Institute (GPI), with technical assistance provided by GPI along with in-state partners Clean Fuels Ohio, Michigan Municipal League, and Ecology Center. This cohort was funded by General Motors’ Corporate Giving Climate Fund. Continue reading »
The guide for stormwater best practices for solar farms developed for the groundbreaking Photovoltaic Stormwater Management Research and Testing (PV-SMaRT) project is now available. The best practices provide guidelines to communities, developers, and state and federal regulators on how solar development should be evaluated under the Clean Water Act. This guidance can resolve many uncertainties in the permitting process regarding stormwater management and surface water quality. Continue reading »
On April 19, Michigan Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) introduced Senate Bill 275, which seeks to establish a clean fuel standard in Michigan. The clean fuel standard bill is part of a package, the Clean Energy Future Plan, which a group of Senate Democrats introduced in an effort to make Michigan “a more environmentally sustainable state as climate patterns continue to change.” Continue reading »
