The Great Plains Institute has just released a first-of-its-kind publication titled An Atlas of Carbon and Hydrogen Hubs for United States Decarbonization. The atlas identifies areas of the United States that offer the capacity to help our nation expand and accelerate emissions reductions and carbon removal through focused coordination, deployment, and policy. Continue reading »
GPI’s Matt Fry Will Serve on NASEM Committee on Carbon Utilization, Infrastructure, Markets, Research, and Development
December 15, 2021 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Emma Thomley
This week, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) appointed Matt Fry to serve on its Committee on Carbon Utilization, Infrastructure, Markets, Research, and Development. Fry is the state and regional policy manager for the Great Plains Institute’s carbon management program and will work with other committee members to assess carbon utilization infrastructure, research, and development needs. Continue reading »
As we close out the end of 2021, you can find out what made GPI’s list of most-read stories from the year. Reflecting on these stories energizes us for what we can accomplish together with our many collaborators, partners, and colleagues as we head into the new year. Continue reading »
Minnesota to Engage Stakeholders on a Clean Fuels Standard
October 7, 2021 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Rebecca Lentz
Today, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz directed state agencies to explore ways to reduce climate change impacts from transportation fuels in a way that is market-driven and fuel-neutral, according to a news release from the State of Minnesota. Led by the Minnesota departments of Agriculture and Transportation, the process will engage a broad cross-section of stakeholders statewide to identify shared goals and opportunities that will help to inform what a Clean Fuels Standard could look like in Minnesota. The agencies will provide a report summarizing the results and recommendations in February 2022, according to the release. Continue reading »
GPI Statements on Nomination of Brad Crabtree to U.S. Department of Energy
September 2, 2021 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Rebecca Lentz
Statement from Rolf Nordstrom, President & CEO, Great Plains Institute
Today we learned that President Biden’s Administration has nominated Great Plains Institute’s Brad Crabtree as Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management within the Department of Energy. Brad has spent nearly two decades at GPI, working to build broad consensus around energy policies that meet our climate obligations and maintain a strong economy—and then see those policies enacted. He has played an outsized role in making carbon capture in all its forms part of the nation’s arsenal of emissions reductions strategies that also bring economic opportunity.
Why Fulfilling Our “Justice For All” Pledge Is Savvy Business and Key to a Net-Zero Carbon Economy
August 4, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom
This blog was originally published by Forbes Business Council.
Most of us remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each school day, ending with “and liberty and justice for all.” But what does justice mean in practice? What does it have to do with climate change? And why should business and the growing throng of people, institutions and governments pushing for a net-zero carbon economy care? Continue reading »
Great Plains Institute Joins More than 160 Labor Unions, Conservation and Environmental NGOs, and Industry Organizations to Urge Congress to Scale Carbon Management Priorities
August 3, 2021 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Rebecca Lentz
(Washington, DC) – Today, Great Plains Institute joined more than 160 companies, labor unions, conservation and environmental groups, and other organizations from around the nation in a letter to Congressional leaders urging the inclusion of a comprehensive suite of bipartisan carbon management policies in any larger legislative vehicle this Congress. Continue reading »
Report: Decarbonizing Minnesota’s Natural Gas End Uses
July 13, 2021 in Energy Systems, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Trevor Drake
Natural gas is an important energy source for Minnesota’s homes and businesses. But it’s also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. So what do we do?
July 13, 2020, Minneapolis — Natural gas used in homes and businesses is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota, and has been increasing over the last 15 years. These rising emissions threaten our ability to meet state emissions reduction goals. At the same time, natural gas is an especially important fuel in our state, providing heat for most of our buildings and fueling many of our largest businesses. To better understand the complex challenges around reducing emissions from natural gas in Minnesota, the nonprofits Center for Energy and Environment and the Great Plains Institute brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including gas and electric utilities, labor representatives, and clean energy advocates. Continue reading »
An equitable energy transition is a moral necessity. Implementing equitable climate solutions is not just the right thing to do; it is essential to achieving our goals. Climate change and racial inequities often are discussed as if they were separate issues. In truth, they are deeply intertwined. Continue reading »
Not Your Grandparents’ Infrastructure: What Businesses Should Be Thinking About
June 14, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom
GPI President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom wrote “Not Your Grandparents’ Infrastructure: What Businesses Should Be Thinking About” for the Forbes Business Council website where it was originally published.
“Infrastructure” is like the tofu of buzzwords — it doesn’t express much by itself. Given the transformational infrastructure investments under consideration in the U.S., it’s worth thinking about what kinds of 21st-century infrastructure we need and what they would make possible for businesses and for society as a whole. I’ll wager it’s different than you think. Continue reading »
