GPI will lead a new pilot project supported by General Motors’ Climate Equity Fund to help communities in Michigan and Ohio with making progress on equitable vehicle electrification. Continue reading »
Q&A on Best Practices for Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power
April 5, 2021 in Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Carl Linvill, Jamie Scripps, Lola Schoenrich
Great Plains Institute is excited to publish a new white paper, Best Practices for Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power (CHP), prepared for GPI by Jamie Scripps of Hunterston Consulting. This paper is a culmination of a years-long collaboration with Jamie and other partners to address barriers to deployment of CHP systems in the Midwest—including the design of standby rates, which are monthly charges to customers with on-site distributed generation like CHP systems. We are grateful for the thoughtful contributions of Carl Linvill of the Regulatory Assistance Project in advising on the starting point for this research, and for his review of the final product. Continue reading »
US Cities Step Up to Join a New Clean Energy Challenge
June 15, 2020 in Communities, News & Press Author: Lola Schoenrich
US Cities Step Up to Join a New Clean Energy Challenge
Initiative supports local clean energy action by 30 cities in 5 states
For Immediate Release: Contact: Lola Schoenrich, Sustainable States Network, Cell: 612-720-9558, Email: [email protected]
Minneapolis, MN—How well do small and mid-sized US cities stack up when it comes to clean energy goals? That’s what the Sustainable States Community Energy Challenge aims to show with tools and support for 30 communities in five states to assess their clean energy goals and initiatives. The challenge will compare clean energy achievements across similarly-sized cities, assess future initiatives, and provide project implementation assistance. Additionally, participating communities will be a part of an in-state peer cohort and will receive technical assistance to completing a pressing clean energy initiative.
GreenStep Cities Celebrates 10 Years
May 4, 2020 in Communities Authors: Diana McKeown, Lola Schoenrich
GPI is thrilled to mark the 10-year anniversary of GreenStep Cities, a voluntary challenge, assistance, and recognition program that helps Minnesota cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. GPI is proud to be a GreenStep Cities partner and take part in supporting and recognizing cities’ progress on sustainability and quality of life. Continue reading »
Q&A: Home Efficiency Upgrades Bring Savings & Unexpected Benefits
October 2, 2019 in Energy Systems Author: Lola Schoenrich
Improving the energy efficiency of your home is a win-win-win. It makes your living space more comfortable, saves you money, and is good for the environment. Leading analysis shows that energy efficiency can significantly reduce energy use and is a critical tool for reaching emissions reduction targets. In the US, the residential and commercial sectors account for about 30 percent of energy use (which represents almost all of energy use in buildings), with the residential sector accounting for about 16 percent of that total. Continue reading »
Q&A: Update on Where Things Stand on Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power
August 8, 2019 in Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jamie Scripps, Lola Schoenrich
Combined heat and power (CHP) projects can deliver significant benefits to the energy system, industries, and utilities and their customers. These benefits include increased energy efficiency, lower emissions, greater system reliability and resilience, and financial savings. Continue reading »
Energy Data Protocol Developed by Minnesota Utility Energy Registry Project
May 7, 2019 in Communities Author: Lola Schoenrich
Access to utility energy data will play a critical role in the level of success communities achieve in shaping their energy future. That’s why the Great Plains Institute, with our partners and other stakeholders, identified opportunities to improve availability of electric utility data at the community-level and developed a data protocol as a resource for communities. Continue reading »
I’m excited to welcome Jessi Wyatt to the Great Plains Institute team as an associate energy planner and analyst. In her role, Jessi will provide technical and analytical support to a variety of projects and programs with a focus on local energy and climate action planning and geospatial analysis. Jessi will also assist with carbon capture and storage modeling and with strategic mapping for policy initiatives, including transportation electrification. Continue reading »
GPI Welcomes Jenna Greene to Communities Program
October 28, 2018 in Communities Author: Lola Schoenrich
I am excited to welcome Jenna Greene to GPI’s Communities Program. Jenna joins us as a program assistant working on GPI’s efforts to expand solar deployment, increase energy efficiency and solar deployment opportunities for small businesses, and support community energy and climate planning. Continue reading »
New Energy Data Project in Minnesota Will be Part of a Multi-State Utility Energy Registry Effort
January 26, 2018 in Communities Author: Lola Schoenrich
*This blog was updated with video from a January 26 webinar to introduce the project (scroll to bottom for video)*
An increasing number of communities in Minnesota are developing clean energy, climate, and resilience goals and launching projects to meet them. These projects include public building energy efficiency, new and more efficient street lighting, solar projects, PACE financing, and many other community-wide initiatives. Continue reading »
