After nearly three decades of impact-driven growth and consensus-based leadership, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is launching a national search for its next Chief Executive Officer. Continue reading »
Rolf Nordstrom Announces Retirement From GPI, Summer 2026
November 26, 2025 in News & Press Author: Drew Henry
After nearly two decades leading GPI, one of the longest-tenured nonprofit executives in Minnesota, Rolf Nordstrom announced this week that he will retire from the organization on July 31, 2026. Rolf’s time as president and CEO was transformative and was essential to defining the organization’s local and national impact, reach, and leadership in the energy and climate space. Continue reading »
John Lee, Former CEO of Barr Engineering, Joins GPI’s Board of Directors
November 12, 2025 in News & Press Author: Drew Henry
National leader in infrastructure development adds technical and executive leadership to advancing the clean energy transition
The Great Plains Institute (GPI) announced today that John Lee, retired president and CEO of Barr Engineering Co., has joined its board of directors. Lee brings more than four decades of leadership and engineering experience, including overseeing Barr’s transformation into a 1,000-person firm known for its technical excellence, collaborative culture, and commitment to sustainable infrastructure and environmental innovation. 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 »
New Major Study Identifies Community-Driven Solutions to Speed Up Transmission Expansion
July 31, 2025 in News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Drew Henry
One of the most comprehensive field studies of its kind reveals overlooked drivers of resistance—and practical tools to accelerate grid buildout
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 »
HR executive will help GPI continue to attract and retain top talent
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 »
Preserving the Earth and Building Prosperity for All
May 1, 2025 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom
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 »
Advancing Hispanic Representation in Energy: A Strategic Partnership for Equity and Opportunity
February 27, 2025 in News & Press Author: Alejandro Calderon
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 »
Department of Energy-Funded Charging Smart Program Expands Across U.S.
January 14, 2025 in Communities, News & Press Author: Drew Henry
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 »
Impact Investing Pioneer, Christa Velasquez, Joins GPI’s Board of Directors
December 11, 2024 in News & Press Author: Drew Henry
Experienced nonprofit and philanthropic executive adds unique leadership to the board
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 »
