In an exciting new evolution of the Great Plains Institute, I am pleased to announce that Louise Miltich will join us as the organization’s first executive vice president starting April 1. Continue reading »
GPI Welcomes Drew Henry as Communications Director
December 12, 2023 in News & Press Author: Rolf NordstromI am delighted to welcome Drew Henry as the Great Plains Institute’s communications director. Drew will lead GPI’s communications efforts in crafting the organization’s message, elevating our work and the work of our partners, and delivering strategic and tactical support to GPI’s program teams. Continue reading »
Inflation Reduction Act Anniversary Highlights Essential Role of Engaging Communities
August 16, 2023 in News & Press Author: Rolf NordstromAlthough less than a quarter of Americans know much about the Inflation Reduction Act even a year later, it still has the potential to improve people’s lives and transform our energy system and economy for the better. Whether we will realize the full potential of this historic legislation depends on how we approach public engagement, who is at the proverbial table, and what outcomes we’re optimizing for. Continue reading »
I’m pleased to announce the Great Plains Institute’s new vision, mission, and values, which reflect how GPI has grown as an organization and describe the world we’re trying to bring about.
Our new vision is an equitable net-zero carbon economy.
Our new mission is to accelerate the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment.
Our new values—trusted, equitable, inclusive, pragmatic, and transformative—are at the core of our culture and key to our impact.
I invite you to watch our short video, which describes why we’ve revised our mission, vision, and values and what they mean to us. It also describes the monumental opportunity we see to help communities, states, utilities, and other key actors implement clean energy at an unprecedented speed and scale while ensuring that the jobs, wealth creation opportunities, and human health benefits of this global transition are accessible to all.
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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 »
These are challenging times, which makes it even more important that people of goodwill lean in, and act. Continue reading »
Why Fulfilling Our “Justice For All” Pledge Is Savvy Business and Key to a Net-Zero Carbon Economy
August 4, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf NordstromThis blog was originally published by Forbes Business Council.
Most of us remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each school day, ending with “and liberty and justice for all.” But what does justice mean in practice? What does it have to do with climate change? And why should business and the growing throng of people, institutions and governments pushing for a net-zero carbon economy care? Continue reading »
Not Your Grandparents’ Infrastructure: What Businesses Should Be Thinking About
June 14, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf NordstromGPI President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom wrote “Not Your Grandparents’ Infrastructure: What Businesses Should Be Thinking About” for the Forbes Business Council website where it was originally published.
“Infrastructure” is like the tofu of buzzwords — it doesn’t express much by itself. Given the transformational infrastructure investments under consideration in the U.S., it’s worth thinking about what kinds of 21st-century infrastructure we need and what they would make possible for businesses and for society as a whole. I’ll wager it’s different than you think. Continue reading »
How Companies Can Help Create a Net-Zero Carbon Economy
May 12, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf NordstromGPI President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom wrote “How Companies Can Help Create a Net-Zero Carbon Economy” for the Forbes Business Council website where it was originally published.
Eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from our economy has taken on an air of inevitability. Now it’s just about how fast, who benefits, who pays and what a net-zero carbon economy will be like in practice. Continue reading »
From the CEO: We Must Create a Just and Racism-Free World
April 21, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf NordstromWith the rest of the world, we waited nervously for the outcome of the trial of the officer who killed George Floyd. We hope that the jury’s guilty verdict brings some measure of peace and accountability to Mr. Floyd’s family, friends and community, knowing that there is no compensation for their loss, or his. Continue reading »