Bioincentive Program Contributes $1.2 Billion of Economic Activity in Minnesota in 2019

September 2, 2020 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek

A new report finds the Bioincentive Program contributed to $1.2 billion dollars of economic activity through construction and $601.7 million from operations, including employment for more than 8,300 Minnesotans.

The full press release, which is available below, was originally posted on the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota website (the Great Plains Institute facilitates the coalition). You can also access the Economic Contribution of the Biobased Industrial Products Industry: Minnesota 2019 report online. The report was prepared by the University of Minnesota Extension’s Center for Community Vitality and the Great Plains Institute. 
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Solar and Wind in Michigan: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects

August 14, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt

The Great Plains Institute is engaging local governments across the Upper Midwest on long-term planning for renewable energy. As part of this effort, we developed a guide to provide communities in Michigan with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater. Continue reading »

Community Partnerships Accelerate Electric Vehicle Charging in Minnesota

August 11, 2020 in Communities, Transportation & Fuels Author: Diana McKeown

Last summer, the Great Plains Institute facilitated a project to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) through public EV charging installations in the Minnesota cities of Shoreview and White Bear Lake in partnership with employees from Cummins Inc. Both communities host Cummins facilities and were excited to collaborate on EV chargers as part of their work to advance sustainability. Cummins was looking for a project to advance sustainability in the communities where they have facilities and where many of their local employees live. The EV project demonstrated the value of partnerships in making progress on community sustainability efforts. Continue reading »

Webinar: Analysis of Transport Infrastructure Shows Near-Term Carbon Capture and Storage Potential

July 30, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Lauren Schultz

On July 20, the Great Plains Institute and Regional Carbon Capture Deployment Initiative hosted a webinar on the white paper, Transport Infrastructure for Carbon Capture and Storage: Regional Infrastructure for Midcentury Decarbonization. This report highlights the scale and design of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and transport infrastructure needed to meet US midcentury climate goals in the industrial and power sectors. The two-year modeling effort identified 418 industrial and power facilities throughout the US that can feasibly capture 360 million metric tons of CO2 per year at a relatively low cost. Continue reading »

Transportation Electrification Collaborative Sends Economic Recovery Recommendations to Congress

July 24, 2020 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Brendan Jordan

Members of the Midcontinent Transportation Electrification Collaborative (MTEC) this week sent a letter to Congressional leaders outlining a suite of recommendations for how clean transportation investments can support economic recovery, job creation, and provide environmental and public health benefits. Facilitated by GPI, MTEC works to increase electric vehicle (EV) use, build infrastructure to support EV travel, decarbonize the transportation sector, and improve air quality and electric system efficiency. MTEC is composed of representatives from state government, electric utilities and cooperatives, charging companies, and environmental organizations. You can read the collaborative’s full letter below.

July 23, 2020

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C.  20510
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510

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Regional Industrial Initiative Releases Federal Policy Recommendations for U.S. Economic Recovery and Long-Term Emissions Reductions in American Industry

July 23, 2020 in Carbon Management, News & Press Authors: Brad Crabtree, Jill Syvrud, Patrice Lahlum

Picture of the capital building framed by trees

(Washington, D.C.) – The Industrial Innovation Initiative, an ambitious coalition of key industrial and power companies, environmental organizations, and state officials from Midwestern and Gulf Coast states focused on decarbonization solutions for the region’s most important industrial sectors, submitted recommendations to Congress today outlining measures for consideration in COVID-19-related federal economic recovery legislation. Continue reading »