Amidst the deeply polarized presidential race and congressional politics, something remarkable happened this month – an unprecedented coalition of key industry, labor, and environmental interests came together to urge Congressional action in support of an essential energy production and carbon reduction strategy – carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Continue reading »
What the Supreme Court Demand Response Decision Means for MISO
February 17, 2016 in Energy Systems Author: Matt Prorok
If you are plugged into the energy world, you’ve heard by now about the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on FERC Order 745, which concludes that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the jurisdictional authority to regulate the participation of demand response (DR) resources in wholesale energy markets. Continue reading »
New Transmission to Expand Midwestern Wind Power
February 16, 2016 in Energy Systems Authors: Dane McFarlane, Matt Prorok
Note: This blog post contains three interactive maps and may take a moment to load
A set of new electric transmission lines, developed with the help of the Great Plains Institute, is under construction to connect more Midwestern wind power to large cities in the east. The Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO), which operates the electric grid in the Midwest, has been moving forward with the Multi-Value Project (MVP) portfolio since 2011. Continue reading »
Minnesota’s Battery Electric Vehicle Sales Beat the Odds in 2015
February 12, 2016 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Brendan Jordan
Low gasoline prices create challenges for many strategies – whether it’s advanced biofuels, lower carbon oil produced using CO2 enhanced oil recovery, biobased chemicals, or electric vehicles. Continue reading »
This past year marked unprecedented global momentum toward a better energy future – momentum you can actually see and feel as we transition to an energy system that is economically and environmentally sustainable. Continue reading »
Labor, Environmental Coalition Urges Congress to Support Upcoming Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Incentive Bill
February 5, 2016 in News & Press
Industry, labor, and environmental groups today called on Members of Congress to support legislation to be introduced by Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) to make permanent the existing federal carbon capture and storage incentive known as Section 45Q. The incentive is designed to spur commercial deployment of technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities for use in enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR), while permanently and safely storing that CO2 underground. Continue reading »
Letter of Support for Permanent Extension of CO2 Storage Tax Credit
February 3, 2016 in Carbon Management, News & Press
February 3, 2016
The Honorable Kevin Brady
The Honorable Sander Levin
U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Levin:
On behalf of the undersigned member companies and organizations, we request that Congress include a permanent extension of the Section 45Q Tax Credit for Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in a technical corrections act or other appropriate legislation. Section 45Q provides a per ton tax credit for the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) through the use of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and is the most important benefit in the tax code for incentivizing carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) at power plants and industrial facilities. Continue reading »
GreenStep Cities Introduces New Resilience Best Practice
February 3, 2016 in Communities Author: Abby Finis
Resilient communities understand that the impact of climate change is occurring now. They prepare for, adapt to, and thrive in the face of abrupt and unforeseen weather, social, and economic changes, while increasing the use of clean energy sources and enhancing local grid infrastructure to limit risk and accelerate recovery from disaster, now and into the future. Continue reading »
Press Release: Industry, Labor, Environmental Coalition Urges Congress to Support Upcoming Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Incentive Bill
February 3, 2016 in Carbon Management, News & Press 
Industry, labor, and environmental groups today called on Members of Congress to support legislation to be introduced by Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) to make permanent the existing federal carbon capture and storage incentive known as Section 45Q. The incentive is designed to spur commercial deployment of technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities for use in enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR), while permanently and safely storing that CO2 underground. Continue reading »
Last year witnessed significant achievements toward the transition to a lower-carbon economy. A historic agreement among over 180 countries to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions was reached in Paris in December. Also there, 20 countries announced the Mission Innovation initiative, which is aimed at doubling clean energy research and development in the next five years. Continue reading »
