We are excited to share important news regarding the evolution of the Electricity and Efficiency program area at Great Plains Institute—this program area will now be called Energy Systems. Continue reading »
Get Involved in GPI’s Newly Launched Carbon Action Alliance
February 23, 2023 in Carbon Management Authors: Bridget Callaghan, Emma Thomley
The growing interest in carbon management—carbon capture, removal, use, transport, and storage—among industry, labor, communities, and the federal government means we have new opportunities to take action on economywide decarbonization—and there’s no time to wait. The Great Plains Institute’s carbon management team launched the Carbon Action Alliance (Action Alliance) in late 2022 to meet this moment of opportunity and urgency. Continue reading »
Federally Funded Study Outlines Best Practices for Managing Solar Farm Stormwater Runoff
February 15, 2023 in News & Press, Renewable Energy Author: Darren Goode
First analysis to detail unique characteristics of solar development that improve water quality
FEBRUARY 15, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—Stormwater management practices, permitting, and regulations at solar sites often do not account for the unique characteristics of large-scale solar installations, a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded study has found. Continue reading »
As companies across the United States (US) start using carbon capture or direct air capture to reduce the nation’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, we need to plan how we’re going to transport the CO2 to sites for secure geologic storage or utilization. While the US has over 5,000 miles of CO2 pipelines already, we’ll need to expand this infrastructure to use or store captured CO2 and meet our midcentury climate goals. Continue reading »
Road Map: 1,104 New Fast-Charging EV Stations Needed for US Network
February 1, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode
Only 10 percent of existing fast-charging stations meet federal funding requirements
FEBRUARY 1, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—The US needs at least 1,104 additional new fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) stations as part of a nationwide network able to support seamless long-distance EV travel. That’s more than double the charging stations that currently meet minimum federal funding requirements, according to a new road map and analysis from Carbon Solutions and the Great Plains Institute (GPI). Continue reading »
Statement: GPI Welcomes Jessie Stolark as the Carbon Capture Coalition’s First Executive Director
January 30, 2023 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Darren Goode
MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute released the following statement by President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom on the Carbon Capture Coalition’s announcement of Jessie Stolark as its new executive director (GPI convenes the Coalition):
“We are thrilled and grateful to welcome Jessie Stolark as the Carbon Capture Coalition’s first executive director. Continue reading »
How Do Clean Fuels Policies Affect Fuel Prices at the Pump?
January 18, 2023 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Mariem Zaghdoudi
Do clean fuels standards like the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) increase the price of fuels at the pump? As states in the Midwest consider adopting a clean fuels standard, consumers want to know how such policies will impact their wallets. Continue reading »
NextGen Highways to Develop Coalitions on Transmission Infrastructure
January 15, 2023 in Energy Systems, Transportation & Fuels Author: Rolf Nordstrom
On January 9, 2022 NextGen Highways issued a press release announcing continued funding from Breakthrough Energy to develop national and state-level coalitions in 2023. The primary focus of these coalitions will be to advocate for the use of existing public rights of way (ROWs) to enable the transmission development needed to meet the nation’s aggressive decarbonization and electrification goals. Continue reading »
Colorado’s Exploration of the Community Choice Energy Model
January 10, 2023 in Energy Systems Author: Aileen Cole
With support from the Great Plains Institute, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) conducted an investigation into the potential implications of community choice energy (CCE) authorization in Colorado. CCE is an alternative to traditional investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative electric supply models and is currently authorized in several other states. Continue reading »
Twin Cities Project to Develop Equitable Solar Access Model for Underserved Small Businesses
December 20, 2022 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
Photo courtesy of Cooperative Energy Futures
Despite increasing solar adoption across the United States, underserved small businesses—especially BIPOC- and immigrant-owned businesses—have historically lacked equitable access to the information, resources, and culturally-appropriate and accessible financing needed to install and receive the benefits of rooftop solar. The Great Plains Institute is a core partner in a newly announced project to help address these inequities in the Twin Cities. Continue reading »
