As solar development expands across the Midwest, and the country, local governments are facing new challenges that go along with the significant opportunities and benefits of developing their solar resources. Continue reading »
I’m pleased to welcome Milkeessaa Waltajjii to the Great Plains Institute as a Finance and Grant Contract Administration Accountant. Milkeessaa brings more than eight years of accounting and finance experience in a nonprofit setting. Continue reading »
GPI, Partners, Host Power Sector Trends Stakeholder Workshop
September 23, 2017 in News & Press Author: Doug Scott
The Great Plains Institute, along with theBipartisan Policy Center and Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions held a one-day workshop in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 13 to explore trends in the electricity sector and to explore what the trends mean for state energy and environmental policy choices.
With Bipartisan Bill Introduction in the U.S. House, Support Broadens for Key Carbon Capture Incentive
September 22, 2017 in Carbon Management Author: Jennifer Christensen
The bipartisan support for carbon capture is strengthening with the introduction of legislation in the U.S. House to extend and reform the 45Q carbon dioxide sequestration tax credit. The bill, titled the Carbon Capture Act, would establish a performance-based incentive to capture, use, and permanently store carbon dioxide. Continue reading »
A Look Back at Drive Electric Week in Minnesota
September 21, 2017 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Katelyn Bocklund
Another successful week of National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) events in Minnesota was wrapped up on September 17. As a partnership of Minnesota electric vehicle (EV) champions, Drive Electric MN served as a communications hub for NDEW 2017 and helped to coordinate the efforts of several of our partners. As a special bonus this year, Twin Cities-based Chinook Book donated over 300 copies of the 2016-17 Chinook Book to distribute at NDEW events. Continue reading »
Analysis: The Effect of Growing Wind Energy on Midwestern Electricity Prices Over the Past 8 Years
September 19, 2017 in Energy Systems Author: Steve Dahlke
A recently released GPI report looks at the extent to which growth in wind energy has reduced electricity prices in the Midwestern market. In conjunction with the Colorado School of Mines, GPI undertook a comprehensive empirical investigation and found a significant decrease in electricity prices attributed to wind energy in the Midcontinent ISO (MISO) market. Continue reading »
The Impact of Wind Generation on Wholesale Electricity Prices in the Midcontinent Market: And Empirical Investigation
September 19, 2017 in Reports & Whitepapers Author: Steve Dahlke
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, is the second largest organized competitive wholesale electricity market in the U.S., serving 14 states with over 180 gigawatts of generation capacity, encompassing 6,427 generating units, and 65,800 miles of transmission lines. (FERC, 2017) Wholesale electricity prices in MISO have decreased over the past several years, as both natural gas prices have fallen and as large amounts of wind generation capacity have been added. Continue reading »
This GreenStep Cities workshop focused on how to use a committee to lead, coordinate, and engage community members on implementation of GreenStep best practices. After Introductions by Abby Finis, Kristen Rhodes discussed the new GreenStep Cities Welcome Guide, and youth involvement (1:32). Continue reading »
Renewable Charging Options in Minnesota for Your Plug-in Electric Vehicle
August 21, 2017 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Katelyn Bocklund
Based on our analysis, we’ve shown that while coal makes up most of the grid’s electricity sources in Minnesota, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) result in about 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline vehicles over the life of the vehicle. If you are a PEV driver in Minnesota who wants to achieve even greater emission reductions, you can charge your PEV with energy from renewable sources. Continue reading »
The Biogenic Carbon Utilization Initiative focuses on developing market opportunities to use or store carbon dioxide (CO2) generated when forest or farm-based feedstocks are processed. Utilizing naturally occurring CO2 as a revenue stream provides a meaningful opportunity to generate negative emissions while maintaining important industrial economies. Continue reading »
