Press Release: Diverse Coalition Applauds Introduction of Carbon Capture Incentive Legislation in the U.S. Senate

July 13, 2016 in News & Press

Press Release Graphic

The National Enhanced Oil Recovery Initiative (NEORI) and Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC) applaud U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Sheldon Whitehouse and co-sponsoring Senators Jon Tester, Brian Schatz, Cory Booker, and Tim Kaine for today’s introduction of the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Act, which aims to accelerate commercial deployment of technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities for enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) and other forms of geologic storage or for conversion to useful products. Continue reading »

Capitol Pathways Experience

June 8, 2016 in News & Press Authors: Amanda Bilek, Diana Vega-Vega

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When I applied to the Capitol Pathways Program, I was looking for an opportunity to experience public policy and learn if it was a good career choice for me. I was given the opportunity to select a specific sector in the application process; I chose sustainability and environmental issues as a top choice. Capitol Pathways program organizers matched me with the Great Plains Institute and I was excited to begin my journey in this inaugural program. Continue reading »

CCUS Technology is Essential to the Success of the Paris Agreement

April 22, 2016 in News & Press

Industry and Projects

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2016 — Technological innovation will be critical in meeting the goal the world’s nations set out in the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. The world derives 80 percent of its energy from coal, oil, and natural gas. Global use of fossil fuels is expected to continue for decades to come, even with the dramatic changes in energy production anticipated under the Paris Agreement. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technology can capture and safely store CO2 emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. In fact, the United Nations IPCC and International Energy Agency have concluded that CCUS is likely essential to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius. Continue reading »

Q&A on Performance-Based Regulation with Energy Innovation’s Sonia Aggarwal

March 30, 2016 in News & Press Author: Jennifer Christensen

Industry and Projects

In Minnesota, GPI convenes a stakeholder effort called the e21 Initiative that recommends, in part, shifting toward a more performance-based regulatory approach to determine how electric utilities in the state are compensated.

Recently, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission discussed performance-based regulation (commonly referred to as PBR) with expert Sonia Aggarwal, Director of Strategy at Energy Innovation. Ms. Aggarwal and the commissioners had an interesting discussion (see summary here) that raised key issues about how a PBR approach would work and its implications. Continue reading »

GPI Serves as Capitol Pathways Host

March 19, 2016 in News & Press Author: Amanda Bilek

A problem that is often raised during Minnesota public policy discussions is that state government is not truly representative of Minnesota’s population, especially as the makeup of the state is rapidly changing. The Great Plains Institute (GPI) is serving as a host organization for a new public policy internship program that aims to begin to address this challenge. The Capitol Pathways internship program is organized by the Citizens League and places college students of color in nonprofits, government agencies, and lobbying firms during the Minnesota legislative session. Continue reading »