During 2018-19, 28 Minnesota cities worked together in regional cohorts through the Cities Charging Ahead! (CCA) project to learn and act together to become “electric vehicle (EV) ready communities.” These cities increased their knowledge significantly and made strides toward their goals to foster EV adoption in their communities. CCA, which was led by the Great Plains Institute and Clean Energy Resource Teams, officially wrapped up in June but the cities have expressed an interest in continuing to meet periodically in their regional cohorts. To build on this interest and the knowledge gained through CCA, we’ve developed resources that are now available for other cities to learn from. Continue reading »
Seed Grant Applications Open for Clean Energy Projects in Minnesota Communities
September 5, 2019 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) have released the request for proposals (RFP) for the 2020 round of seed grants to catalyze clean energy projects all over the state of Minnesota. Continue reading »
The EV-olution Comes to Minnesota Communities
May 7, 2019 in Communities, Transportation & Fuels Author: Diana McKeown
Earlier this spring, 100 electric vehicle (EV) stakeholders gathered for a day-long event, “EV-olution: Charging Ahead with Electric Vehicles in Minnesota Communities,” held at the at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The event brought together people from 35 cities, state agencies, all of Minnesota major electric utilities, and nonprofits working in the EV space to accelerate the transition to an electrified transportation system. Continue reading »
Minneapolis Funds Clean Energy Projects for Businesses with a Focus on Green Zones
February 20, 2019 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
A recent expansion of Minneapolis’ Green Cost Share Program to solar energy projects, with a priority placed on those in Green Zones, has led to significant investments in solar projects in the city that will contribute to increased economic development and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading »
GPI Welcomes Kristoffer Acuña to Communities Program
January 9, 2019 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
I’m pleased to welcome Kristoffer Acuña to the GPI team as a program assistant with the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team (Metro CERT). In this position, Kris will work on the Cities Charging Ahead! project, which aims to help Minnesota cities increase understanding of and make progress toward electric vehicle readiness. Kris will also assist with additional projects for GPI’s work as part of the Metro CERT and other projects that are part of our Communities Program.
Cities Making Progress on Electric Vehicle Readiness Across Minnesota
September 25, 2018 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
Twenty-eight cities across Minnesota are looking to the future and getting ready for broad adoption of electric vehicles.
Cities Charging Ahead! is a peer cohort of 28 cities working together across Minnesota to explore electric vehicle readiness. Participants receive technical assistance focused on actions and best practices, based on the GreenStep Cities program, that cities can implement to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles such as: Continue reading »
Inaugural Metro Environmental Commission Conference Draws Nearly 50 Commissioners to Connect and Learn From Each Other
May 25, 2018 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
How can city environmental commissions connect with and learn more from each other? Commissioners from the Minneapolis, MN metro area and other stakeholders recently gathered to foster such connections and explore how they could increase learning opportunities with one another. Continue reading »
Minnesota Cities Charging Ahead Around Electric Vehicles
February 20, 2018 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
There has been a growing interest from cities in Minnesota to explore options for adding electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure in their communities. Continue reading »
Super Bowl LII + Minnesota + Sustainability = Win-Win-Win
February 1, 2018 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
I have been honored to serve on the sustainability committee and the energy efficiency/renewable energy workgroup for Super Bowl LII on behalf of the Great Plains Institute during the past year. Continue reading »
Q&A With UMN Energy Transition Lab’s Ellen Anderson on the Local Government Project for Energy Planning
September 26, 2017 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
GPI’s Diana McKeown, who directs the Metro region of Minnesota’s Clean Energy Resource Teams, interviews Ellen Anderson, Executive Director of the University of Minnesota’s Energy Transition Lab, about an important new project to help communities reach and measure progress toward emission reduction goals. Continue reading »
