We are excited to share important news regarding the evolution of the Electricity and Efficiency program area at Great Plains Institute—this program area will now be called Energy Systems. Continue reading »
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 »
Colorado’s Exploration of the Community Choice Energy Model
January 10, 2023 in Energy Systems Author: Aileen Cole
With support from the Great Plains Institute, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) conducted an investigation into the potential implications of community choice energy (CCE) authorization in Colorado. CCE is an alternative to traditional investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative electric supply models and is currently authorized in several other states. Continue reading »
GPI’s Top Ten Stories of 2022
December 30, 2022 in Carbon Management, Communities, Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Jennifer Christensen
Find out what made our list of most-read stories in 2022, which includes posts we’ve published over the last year and a half. Continue reading »
Q&A: Blackout Risks Underscore Resilience & Reliability Investment Needs for US Power Grid
August 31, 2022 in Energy Systems, Renewable Energy Authors: Brian Ross, Jennifer Christensen, Matt Prorok
The US power grid faces a perfect storm—aging, underfunded infrastructure, extreme weather fueled by climate change, and a changing electricity generation portfolio. Experts warned earlier this year that huge regions of the US could have shortfalls in the power supply during times of high demand, which could lead to rolling blackouts. While blackouts haven’t occurred thus far, the system remains vulnerable to extreme weather events. Continue reading »
The Race to Expand Electric Transmission in America Has Finally Begun
August 1, 2022 in Energy Systems Author: Matt Prorok
The recent approval of a slate of long-range transmission lines in the Midwest moves the US closer to realizing a reliable, resilient grid for a net-zero carbon economy. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) Board of Directors unanimously approved the $10.3 billion grid expansion that will increase grid reliability, lower system costs, and remove barriers to renewable energy projects waiting for grid interconnection. Continue reading »
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers unveiled the state’s comprehensive clean energy plan this week. The Great Plains Institute played a key role in assisting the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy in developing the plan. Continue reading »
Clean Energy and Equity Recommendations See Major Federal Support
December 21, 2021 in Energy Systems Author: Kate Sullivan
At the end of 2020, the Great Plains Institute and BlueGreen Alliance convened stakeholders across Minnesota to address the interrelated challenges of the economic impact of a global pandemic, longstanding racial disparities, and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The group, Building Economic Resilience Through Clean Energy and Equity in Minnesota (BERCEE), brought together representatives from labor, energy, business, environmental organizations, tribal nations, and state and local governments. Continue reading »
Hybrid Resources One Step Closer to MISO Market Participation
December 2, 2021 in Energy Systems Author: Matt Prorok
New electricity market rule changes will help hybrid resource projects advance in the Midcontinent region. The changes provide methods to determine hybrid resources’ capacity value, a vital metric for maintaining the reliability of the region’s electric grid. Since hybrid resources can combine multiple electricity generation technologies and storage devices, they are an important opportunity to increase carbon-free energy in the region. Continue reading »
Report: Decarbonizing Minnesota’s Natural Gas End Uses
July 13, 2021 in Energy Systems, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Trevor Drake
Natural gas is an important energy source for Minnesota’s homes and businesses. But it’s also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. So what do we do?
July 13, 2020, Minneapolis — Natural gas used in homes and businesses is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota, and has been increasing over the last 15 years. These rising emissions threaten our ability to meet state emissions reduction goals. At the same time, natural gas is an especially important fuel in our state, providing heat for most of our buildings and fueling many of our largest businesses. To better understand the complex challenges around reducing emissions from natural gas in Minnesota, the nonprofits Center for Energy and Environment and the Great Plains Institute brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including gas and electric utilities, labor representatives, and clean energy advocates. Continue reading »
