GreenStep Cities, a voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program in Minnesota that helps cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals, periodically gathers feedback from the cities and tribal nations it works with. A recently completed GreenStep Cities evaluation found that the program delivers real value to both participating cities and to the public and private program partners. Continue reading »
The City of Duluth, Minnesota recently launched a new web-based solar energy mapping tool for its residents and businesses that will help lower the barriers to solar development in the city. The app, called “Duluth Shines,” helps users evaluate their rooftop’s solar potential and estimate the size and cost of a solar installation. The tool is generating new interest in solar opportunities and has received coverage in local and regional news. Continue reading »
A new report on siting and regulating carbon capture, carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines, and other associated infrastructure needed for deployment of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and other geologic storage was recently published week by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Continue reading »
Since electric vehicles became widely available in 2011 the market has been somewhat limited. Consumers throughout the world faced a choice among three distinct options: 1) a vehicle like the Nissan Leaf, a relatively low cost and low range battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2) a higher cost, higher range BEV like the Tesla Model S, 3) or the all-around utility of a Chevy Volt or another plug in hybrid (PHEV). This paradigm may soon fall apart, and that’s a good thing. Continue reading »
On January 13th, the Great Plains Institute staff participated in our first day of service, a chance to give back to our community, enjoy some time away from the office, and get to know each other a little better. We partnered with Open Arms Minnesota, an organization that prepares and delivers meals to Twin Cities residents living with cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and ALS. Founded in 1986, Open Arms now delivers to over 1,000 clients each week with the help of over 5,000 volunteers annually. Continue reading »
A new Great Plains Institute report concludes that the launch of the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) market in 2005 led to an increase of average capacity factors for wind turbines in the region by more than five percent. Continue reading »
This paper, “Competitive Markets and Renewables: The Effect of Wholesale Electricity Market Restructuring on Wind Generation in the Midwest,” estimates the effect of having a competitive wholesale electricity market on wind plant generation for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) electricity market. Continue reading »
On December 1st, a small team of community members and folks from the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) went out in pairs to door-knock in Chisago City and the City of Lindstrom to encourage small business owners to participate in a free energy and/or solar assessment of their business through the Chisago Clean Energy Hub. Continue reading »
The GreenStep Workshops address a variety of topics related to GreenStep Cities best practices. Resources from the 2016-2017 workshop series – including PDFs of the workshop presentations and handouts – are available below. Continue reading »
With regulatory hurdles cleared at both the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the U.S. Department of Energy, the Great Northern Transmission Line is set to connect Minnesota Power to Manitoba Hydro, across the U.S./Canadian border. The 224-mile, 500 kV transmission line will connect Minnesota Power transmission system in northern Minnesota to Manitoba Hydro’s grid. Continue reading »
