COVID-19: A Chance to Build Back Better

April 30, 2020 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom

build back better

Given the toll the current pandemic is having on our families, friends, and people around the globe, it’s hard to contemplate what the world could be like after COVID-19. However, as those on the front lines of this crisis work with such strength, resolve, and self-sacrifice, those of us working on the climate challenge have the obligation to continue our work toward a better world on the other side of this tragedy. Continue reading »

Why an Ethanol Advocacy Group Supports a Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy

April 10, 2020 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Brendan Jordan

Why an ethanol advocacy group supports a clean fuels policy

The Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative, facilitated by the Great Plains Institute (GPI), recently released a report detailing how a successful clean fuels policy should be designed. The initiative brings together fuel producers and marketers, nonprofit and research organizations, scientists and engineers, and agriculture and industry stakeholders.

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Minnesota Carbon Capture Opportunities

March 31, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Lauren Schultz

A man speaking at the Minnesota Carbon Capture ForumEnergy, environmental, labor, and policy leaders recently hosted the Minnesota Carbon Capture Forum to inform and educate a diverse audience about the economic and environmental opportunities for the technology in the state. Below you will find audio of the event as well as other resources on how Minnesota and other US states can capitalize on this decades-tested technology.  Continue reading »

Solar and Wind in Minnesota: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects

March 23, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers 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 Minnesota with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater.   Continue reading »

Hybrid Resources in the MISO Electricity Market: An Emerging Opportunity

March 12, 2020 in Energy Systems Authors: Maggie Kristian, Matt Prorok

Solar panels and wind turbines in a field Electricity markets, the federal government, and state governments across the country are working on how to address hybrid resources, which are a combination of multiple generation technologies and/or storage devices that work together to provide energy, capacity, and other grid services. This post focuses on hybrid resources in the MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) market and describes their unique attributes and value to the grid, which can help inform how market rules incorporate them. Continue reading »

Solar and Wind in Iowa: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects

March 9, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers 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 Iowa with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater.   Continue reading »

45Q Tax Credit Implementation Update: IRS Releases Long-Anticipated Guidance, but Questions Remain

March 6, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Patrice Lahlum

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released two pieces of guidance relating to the implementation of the reformed 45Q tax credit, relating to requirements defining beginning and continuous construction requirements for projects and a revenue procedure that establishes rules for business partnerships claiming the tax credit. Clarity and financial certainty on 45Q tax credit implementation is vital for carbon capture projects which­­ have a narrow window of time to begin before the credit’s January 1, 2024 deadline for beginning of construction.­­ Continue reading »