Supporting local governments in advancing transportation electrification is crucial for GPI’s efforts to drive equitable, data-driven solutions that reduce emissions and offer real community benefits. Continue reading »
Helping Wisconsin Local Governments Reduce Emissions
March 30, 2026 in Communities Author: Catherine Kemp
Local governments play a crucial role in advancing climate solutions, but knowing where to start or how to scale existing efforts can be challenging. Here at GPI, we are committed to supporting local action that leads to impactful outcomes at the state and national levels. Continue reading »
Survey Results: Key Findings from Local Planner and Sustainability Staff on Needs for Advancing Climate Work
March 6, 2026 in Communities Author: Jem Thompson
Local planners and sustainability staff are being asked to address complex climate issues faster than ever, often while juggling other responsibilities, limited capacity, and a growing set of expectations.
To better understand what is needed at the local level to support this work, GPI partnered with the American Planning Association Sustainable Communities Division (APA-SCD) and the Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund to survey practitioners across the country. Continue reading »
Charging Smart Indiana: Transportation Electrification in America’s Crossroads
February 9, 2026 in Communities Authors: Jem Thompson, Tyler Cairncross
Across the country, cities and towns are planning for electric vehicles (EVs) in earnest. Smaller, rural, and more resource-constrained communities are best positioned to succeed when they have the capacity, subject-matter support, and locally appropriate tools needed to plan and deliver EV infrastructure that fits their context. Technical assistance and designation programs like Charging Smart provide this type of support. Continue reading »
A Future Beyond Energy: Economic Diversification in Itasca County and Greater Northern Minnesota
October 31, 2025 in Communities, Energy Systems Authors: Amy Ward, Catherine Kemp
Across the United States, communities that have hosted coal-fired power plants for decades are now grappling with an urgent question: What comes next when those plants transition away from coal in the shift to cleaner, more affordable energy? Continue reading »
Local Planner and Sustainability Staff Survey on Needs for Advancing Climate Work
October 8, 2025 in Communities, News & Press Author: Mackenzie Love
What tools and resources do local planners and sustainability staff need to address pressing climate issues in their day-to-day work? A new survey from GPI, in partnership with the American Planning Association Sustainable Communities Division and the Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund, aims to answer that and other questions to help guide the development of future tools and resources. Continue reading »
We’re excited to share that Charging Smart has been helping communities accelerate transportation electrification for over a year! The technical assistance and designation program, which GPI originally piloted in the Midwest, has now expanded nationwide. Dozens of cities and towns across the country are pursuing designation, with new communities joining every day. Continue reading »
Direct pay, also known as elective pay, is an unsung hero for local governments and community organizations to accelerate economic investment and job creation and achieve climate and energy goals for their residents and stakeholders. Its concept is simple, and its results are clear, but now is the time to tune in if you haven’t heard about it. Continue reading »
Scaling Local Climate Action Part Two: Shaping State Decisions Through Peer Networks
March 12, 2025 in Communities Authors: Ava Thompson, Catherine Kemp
State policy and regulatory decisions can significantly impact local governments’ ability to advance climate resilience and mitigation. Often, local governments have climate or clean energy goals that far exceed their local authority to make them a reality. Therefore, supportive state policy, programs, funding, and regulatory decisions are essential. Continue reading »
Scaling Local Climate Action Through Peer Networks: Part One
January 16, 2025 in Communities Authors: Ava Thompson, Catherine Kemp
“In the 50-year history of the Minnesota Regional Development Commission’s network, until now, we have never collectively realized the authentic relationships with state agencies and philanthropy partners in the space of climate mitigation,” shares Cheryal Hills, executive director of the Region Five Development Commission in Central Minnesota and member of a GPI-led peer network. Continue reading »
