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 »

GPI Launches Survey on Standby Rates Best Practices for Combined Heat and Power

July 1, 2020 in Energy Systems Author: Jamie Scripps

Hands, working on a computerThe Great Plains Institute is launching a survey requesting feedback on best practices in standby rates for combined heat and power (CHP). According to Lola Schoenrich, vice president of communities at GPI, “Best practices for standby rates have begun to emerge, but we need to further define and standardize these practices. The purpose of this survey is to begin to critically examine these emerging recommended practices with interested stakeholders such as regulators, potential CHP users, developers, technical experts, and utilities.” Continue reading »

New Analysis: Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure for Midcentury Decarbonization

June 30, 2020 in Carbon Management, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Dane McFarlane

The Great Plains Institute (GPI) is excited to announce the final results of more than two years of research and modeling on carbon capture and storage opportunities throughout the US. The white paper, Transport Infrastructure for Carbon Capture and Storage: Regional Infrastructure for Midcentury Decarbonization, summarizes our findings and details our analytical approach. The analysis identifies near-term capture and storage opportunities, then designs and plans the regional transport infrastructure required to maximize CO2 abatement while minimizing cost and land use impact.  Continue reading »

Together: Scaling Local Action for the Greatest Climate Impact

June 26, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Morgan Zehner

Children playing in the snowThis blog is one in a series that celebrates the variety of professionals who have been touched by the Great Plains Institute (GPI). Together—GPI’s spring fundraising campaign—showcases people who work in multiple industries and have various constituents and customers, but all play an important role in helping America transform its energy system.

NAME: Larry Kraft

AFFILIATION: City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota

TITLE: At Large Council Member    Continue reading »

How Repowering Aging Renewables in the Midcontinent Impacts Carbon Emissions

June 18, 2020 in Energy Systems Authors: Jessi Wyatt, Maggie Kristian

How Repowering Aging Renewables in the Midcontinent Impacts Carbon EmissionsMany wind and solar energy projects in the Midcontinent will face the decision to repower or decommission as they reach the end of their useful lifespan between 2020-2050. These decisions will impact the energy mix of the existing electricity system—and its carbon emissions. We analyzed potential scenarios for repowering the Midcontinent’s wind and solar energy fleet, sharing potential implications for the region’s electricity system and carbon emissions. These scenarios show why repowering aging renewables in the Midcontinent is important to continue reducing the region’s electricity emissions. Continue reading »

US Cities Step Up to Join a New Clean Energy Challenge

June 15, 2020 in Communities, News & Press Author: Lola Schoenrich

sustainable states network

 

US Cities Step Up to Join a New Clean Energy Challenge

 Initiative supports local clean energy action by 30 cities in 5 states

 

For Immediate Release:  Contact: Lola Schoenrich, Sustainable States Network, Cell: 612-720-9558,  Email: [email protected]

Minneapolis, MN—How well do small and mid-sized US cities stack up when it comes to clean energy goals? That’s what the Sustainable States Community Energy Challenge aims to show with tools and support for 30 communities in five states to assess their clean energy goals and initiatives. The challenge will compare clean energy achievements across similarly-sized cities, assess future initiatives, and provide project implementation assistance. Additionally, participating communities will be a part of an in-state peer cohort and will receive technical assistance to completing a pressing clean energy initiative.

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Together: Creating Technology for Real-World Impact

June 10, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Morgan Zehner

This blog is one in a series that celebrates the wide variety of professionals who have been touched by the Great Plains Institute (GPI). Together – GPI’s spring 2020 campaign – showcases people who work in multiple industries and have various constituents and customers, but all play an important role in helping America transform its energy system. Read all the stories in the Together series here.

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