This article was originally published on July 9, 2026, and updated on July 30, 2026.
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. Continue reading »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
