Stakeholder Group Report Recommends Key Steps for Modernizing Maine’s Electric Grid

April 14, 2021 in Energy Systems, News & Press Author: Trevor Drake

solar panel

Stakeholder Group Report Recommends Key Steps for Modernizing Maine’s Electric Grid  

For Immediate Release: April 14, 2021 

Media Contacts:
Jeremy Cluchey, [email protected], 207-233–2795
Rebecca Lentz, [email protected], 612-978-2849 

BRUNSWICK, MAINE — A stakeholder group representing environmental nonprofits, renewable energy developers, electric utilities, consumer advocates, and other energy sector stakeholders has issued a set of nine consensus-based recommendations for steps to plan, build, and operate the electric grid that is needed to meet Maine’s recently established climate and energy requirements.  Continue reading »

Q&A on Best Practices for Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power

April 5, 2021 in Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Carl Linvill, Jamie Scripps, Lola Schoenrich

combined heat and power

Great Plains Institute is excited to publish a new white paper, Best Practices for Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power (CHP), prepared for GPI by Jamie Scripps of Hunterston Consulting. This paper is a culmination of a years-long collaboration with Jamie and other partners to address barriers to deployment of CHP systems in the Midwest—including the design of standby rates, which are monthly charges to customers with on-site distributed generation like CHP systems. We are grateful for the thoughtful contributions of Carl Linvill of the Regulatory Assistance Project in advising on the starting point for this research, and for his review of the final product. Continue reading »

New Release: “A Road Map to Decarbonization in the Midcontinent: Buildings”

February 25, 2021 in Energy Systems, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jessi Wyatt, Kate Sullivan

air pump installation

The Midcontinent Power Sector Collaborative, facilitated by the Great Plains Institute (GPI), is excited to announce the release of A Road Map to Decarbonization in the Midcontinent: Buildings, the third and final in a series of road maps. Buildings are a key sector to unlock on the road to decarbonization. This road map focuses on the opportunities to achieve decarbonization of buildings across the Midcontinent region by 2050.

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The Clean Energy Revolution Your Business Might Be Missing

January 4, 2021 in Energy Systems Author: Rolf Nordstrom

rolf nordstrom forbes

GPI President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom wrote “The Clean Energy Revolution Your Business Might Be Missing” for the Forbes Business Council website where it was originally published. Nordstrom recently became a council member.

If the quiet energy revolution taking place, particularly in the electric sector, has gone unnoticed by you, your company is likely missing out on critical economic and consumer benefits.

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ERI, GPI Release Model Solar Ordinance, Renewable Energy Guide to Facilitate Indiana Solar and Wind Development

December 21, 2020 in Energy Systems, News & Press, Renewable Energy Author: Brian Ross

solar panel

Bloomington, Ind. (December 21, 2020)—As more Indiana utility companies, businesses, and property owners seek to take advantage of the benefits of renewable energy, local governments in Indiana are looking to make informed decisions about solar and wind energy proposals and future development.

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Solar and Wind in Michigan: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects

August 14, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt

The Great Plains Institute is engaging local governments across the Upper Midwest on long-term planning for renewable energy. As part of this effort, we developed a guide to provide communities in Michigan with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater. Continue reading »

GPI Launches Survey on Standby Rates Best Practices for Combined Heat and Power

July 1, 2020 in Energy Systems Author: Jamie Scripps

Hands, working on a computerThe Great Plains Institute is launching a survey requesting feedback on best practices in standby rates for combined heat and power (CHP). According to Lola Schoenrich, vice president of communities at GPI, “Best practices for standby rates have begun to emerge, but we need to further define and standardize these practices. The purpose of this survey is to begin to critically examine these emerging recommended practices with interested stakeholders such as regulators, potential CHP users, developers, technical experts, and utilities.” Continue reading »

How Repowering Aging Renewables in the Midcontinent Impacts Carbon Emissions

June 18, 2020 in Energy Systems Authors: Jessi Wyatt, Maggie Kristian

How Repowering Aging Renewables in the Midcontinent Impacts Carbon EmissionsMany wind and solar energy projects in the Midcontinent will face the decision to repower or decommission as they reach the end of their useful lifespan between 2020-2050. These decisions will impact the energy mix of the existing electricity system—and its carbon emissions. We analyzed potential scenarios for repowering the Midcontinent’s wind and solar energy fleet, sharing potential implications for the region’s electricity system and carbon emissions. These scenarios show why repowering aging renewables in the Midcontinent is important to continue reducing the region’s electricity emissions. Continue reading »