Broad Coalition Advocates For Minnesota Clean Transportation Standard Funding in Budget Deal

March 30, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode

Push comes after funding proposed by Governor Walz and Minnesota Senate Transportation panel

March 30, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—The Minnesota Future Fuels Coalition, a diverse effort representing automakers, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and charging providers, biofuel producers, and clean energy and conservation advocates, is pushing the Minnesota State Legislature to include funding to develop a legislative recommendation on a clean transportation standard for the 2024 legislative session.   Continue reading »

Local Minnesota Officials Launch Climate Coalition

March 29, 2023 in Communities, News & Press Author: Darren Goode

Nonpartisan group of local elected officials focused on influencing state climate, clean energy leadership

March 29, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—A nonpartisan group of Minnesota local elected officials is launching a new coalition focused on influencing state policy and regulations to help cities as they ratchet up their climate and clean energy goals.

The Minnesota Cities Climate Coalition includes representatives from cities across the state. That includes one or more representatives from 21 local governments—such as Bloomington, Duluth, Minneapolis, Moorhead, and Saint Paul—that have passed resolutions declaring climate change emergencies. Continue reading »

Statement on Matt Fry’s Appointment to White House Council on Environmental Quality CCUS Task Force

March 24, 2023 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Darren Goode

The Great Plains Institute released the following statement from Patrice Lahlum, interim vice president of Carbon Management, in response to the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) announcement that Matt Fry, senior policy manager of Carbon Management, will serve on the new Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization and Sequestration Federal Lands and Outer Continental Shelf Permitting Task Force:

“Matt is a perfect fit for the important work this task force will undertake to ensure the efficient and responsible permitting processes needed to further deploy carbon management projects and technologies on our federal lands and in the offshore environment. Continue reading »

Statement on Vice President Doug Scott’s Appointment to Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission

March 13, 2023 in Energy Systems, News & Press Author: Darren Goode

MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute released the following statement by President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom:

“We are excited about the announcement that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has appointed longtime Great Plains Institute (GPI) Energy Systems Vice President, Doug Scott, to serve as Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) beginning in June 2023.” Continue reading »

Minnesota Clean Transportation Standard Passes Initial Senate Committee

March 10, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode

If enacted, legislation would be strongest statewide clean transportation standard in the nation and first in the Midwest

March 10, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—The bicameral Clean Transportation Standard Act received initial approval in the Minnesota Legislature with passage March 9 out of the Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Committee.

The bill from Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Scott Dibble (DFL) and Representative Jeff Brand (DFL) is now referred to the Minnesota Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee. Continue reading »

Diverse Coalition Announces Support for Statewide Minnesota Clean Transportation Standard That Would Be Strongest in the Nation

March 9, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode

The Minnesota state capitol building at sunset

Automakers, EV, biofuel, and environmental advocates back bicameral legislation with mandatory carbon reduction targets for all Minnesota-supplied fuels

March 9, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—A diverse coalition representing automakers, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and charging providers, biofuel producers, and clean energy and conservation advocates is endorsing new bicameral legislation that would implement a clean transportation standard statewide in Minnesota. If enacted, the legislation would establish the strongest such state standard in the nation. Continue reading »

Federally Funded Study Outlines Best Practices for Managing Solar Farm Stormwater Runoff

February 15, 2023 in News & Press, Renewable Energy Author: Darren Goode
Field of sunflowers with solar panels
First analysis to detail unique characteristics of solar development that improve water quality

FEBRUARY 15, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—Stormwater management practices, permitting, and regulations at solar sites often do not account for the unique characteristics of large-scale solar installations, a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded study has found. Continue reading »

Road Map: 1,104 New Fast-Charging EV Stations Needed for US Network

February 1, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode

Closeup of red pins on a paper map

Only 10 percent of existing fast-charging stations meet federal funding requirements 

FEBRUARY 1, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—The US needs at least 1,104 additional new fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) stations as part of a nationwide network able to support seamless long-distance EV travel. That’s more than double the charging stations that currently meet minimum federal funding requirements, according to a new road map and analysis from Carbon Solutions and the Great Plains Institute (GPI). Continue reading »

Statement: GPI Welcomes Jessie Stolark as the Carbon Capture Coalition’s First Executive Director

January 30, 2023 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Darren Goode

Portrait of Jessie Stolark with a blurred background

MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute released the following statement by President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom on the Carbon Capture Coalition’s announcement of Jessie Stolark as its new executive director (GPI convenes the Coalition):

“We are thrilled and grateful to welcome Jessie Stolark as the Carbon Capture Coalition’s first executive director. Continue reading »