GPI Offers Resources to Address Planner and Sustainability Professionals’ Needs for Climate Work

July 9, 2026 in Communities Author: Mackenzie Love

In 2025, the Great Plains Institute conducted a nationwide survey of local planners and sustainability staff to understand their needs for advancing climate work. Respondents said the most useful addition to their toolkits would be real-world examples of efforts to advance climate goals.

To figure out where those examples were most needed, we compared the survey results with a scan of existing resources and found that data centers, autonomous vehicles, and energy affordability stood out as the topics with the greatest gaps. 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 »

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 »

Charging Smart Continues to Grow

April 29, 2025 in Communities Author: Jem Thompson

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 »

GPI Applauds New Direct Pay Tracker

April 9, 2025 in Communities Author: Catherine Kemp

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 »