Solar and Water: Turning Renewable Energy Development into a Community Benefit

September 4, 2026 in Renewable Energy Author: Monika Vadali

A recent webinar hosted by the Great Plains Institute explored the growing connection between solar energy development and water quality, often called the solar/water nexus. Interest in the webinar spanned the globe, with over 240 people registering from 38 states and 6 countries. State and local government staff made up nearly half of attendees, with the remainder representing solar developers and engineering/construction firms, energy or environmental nonprofits, local or state government officials, educational institutions, and interested community members. Continue reading »

The State of Solar: Insights on Distributed Solar Installations in Minnesota

May 11, 2023 in Renewable Energy Authors: Monika Vadali, Rachel Percy

Local governments are setting aggressive climate and clean energy goals in Minnesota. Encouraging distributed solar energy will play a key role in meeting them. The Great Plains Institute (GPI) has conducted an analysis of Minnesota Public Utilities Commission data on where and what types of distributed solar installations are occurring in the state. Continue reading »