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 »
A new report from GPI presents the most in-depth analysis to date of local perspectives on high-voltage transmission, focused on the Great Plains region. It sheds light on why rural opposition emerges and how it can be addressed. Continue reading »
The Great Plains Institute (GPI) announced today that Jim Horn, Chief Human Resources Officer at Ulteig, has joined its board of directors. Horn brings a unique combination of business leadership, organizational strategy, and deep insights into how an organization’s culture can drive success, with a track record of scaling mission-driven, rapidly growing companies. Given GPI’s meteoric growth, which has more than quadrupled in the past five years, Horn’s experience will be invaluable. Continue reading »
I chose to work at a nonprofit organization because it offered an entrepreneurial opportunity to address a pressing issue that I (and many around the world) care deeply about, which neither governments nor the private sector can fully address on their own: access for all to reliable, affordable, increasingly clean energy. Continue reading »
The Great Plains Institute (GPI) and Hispanics in Energy (HIE) have joined forces in a strategic partnership to expand opportunities for Hispanic Americans in the energy sector. This collaboration combines HIE’s expertise in advocacy for Hispanic inclusion with GPI’s research ability to highlight Hispanic Americans’ contributions to energy and identify ways to unlock their full potential to support progress toward a carbon-free economy. Continue reading »
Free Technical Assistance Now Available to Local Governments in All 50 States
Washington, D.C. (Jan. 14, 2025) — Charging Smart, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded technical assistance and designation program, is now available in all fifty U.S. states. Charging Smart offers free technical assistance to help local governments accelerate the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure. Continue reading »
MINNEAPOLIS – The Great Plains Institute (GPI) announced today that Christa Velasquez, a distinguished pioneer in philanthropic impact investing, has joined its board of directors. Velasquez brings over 25 years of experience in impact investing and philanthropic grantmaking to underinvested communities. She is currently consulting with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and is also a lecturer at the University of Chicago, educating the next generation of talent devoted to the common good. Continue reading »
The Great Plains Institute announced today that Charles Hua, founder and executive director of PowerLines and former U.S. Department of Energy advisor, has joined its board. With roots in the Midwest, Hua is a rising star in energy and the clean energy transition, internationally recognized for his leadership on grid modernization, clean energy policy and sustainability. Continue reading »
Fall is a beautiful time of change and transition, and in that spirit, we have exciting news of change and opportunity to share ourselves!
It is with gratitude and celebration that we share Lola Schoenrich is evolving her leadership role at GPI, stepping back from serving as vice president of Communities and into a part-time senior fellow role where she will continue to contribute her considerable experience and expertise. Continue reading »
If there’s anything the last decade has shown, it’s that the clean energy transition is a powerful force. The increase in optimism, opportunity, and investment is building momentum toward a net-zero carbon economy. Here at GPI, we truly are positioned to create the market conditions to accelerate the clean energy transition. Continue reading »
