Legislation passed in Minnesota earlier this year to incentivize a new solar permitting tool called “SolarAPP+” that offers direct financial benefits to homeowners, local governments, and Minnesota’s growing solar industry. Continue reading »
Expanding Solar Access to Underserved Communities Through SolSmart: A Solar Equity Case Study
July 16, 2024 in Renewable Energy Authors: Maya Chilcote, Val Stori
A new report by GPI staff for the national SolSmart program, Expanding Solar Access to Underserved Communities Through SolSmart, focuses on centering solar equity as a key principle of solar programs and policies. Centering solar equity will not only make solar energy more accessible but also distribute meaningful benefits to disadvantaged communities. Continue reading »
Issue Brief Outlines Hydrogen Transportation Barriers
June 13, 2024 in Renewable Energy Authors: Dreek Morgan, Val Stori
As the world’s energy landscape evolves, clean hydrogen emerges as a promising solution for achieving clean, net-zero carbon energy. Hydrogen transportation has also emerged as a key challenge to address in the energy space. A new issue brief from a work group of the Hydrogen Economy Collaborative (HEC), convened by GPI, focuses on these challenges and highlights opportunities to address them. Continue reading »
La Crescent Achieves First SolSmart Platinum Designation in Minnesota
June 11, 2024 in News & Press, Renewable Energy Authors: Dreek Morgan, Sydne Tursky
La Crescent is the first city in Minnesota and the fourth municipality nationwide to achieve SolSmart Platinum designation. To achieve Platinum, La Crescent took action to increase solar readiness in their community and adopted an automated solar permitting platform. Continue reading »
GPI Defines Local Siting Standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems
May 6, 2024 in Renewable Energy Author: Brian Ross
Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) will play a critical role in clean energy deployment, yet much is unknown at the local level about how to site these facilities. GPI recently rolled out a framework for local governments and community planners in an article published in the American Planning Association’s Zoning Practice. Continue reading »
Statement: Solar Farmland Access for Emerging Farmers Project Recognized with Award
April 8, 2024 in News & Press, Renewable Energy Author: Drew Henry
The annual Environmental Initiative Awards were recently announced, with the Energy and Climate award going to the Food Group’s Solar Farmland Access – Emerging Farmers project, which seeks to increase land access for emerging, BIPOC, and immigrant farmers by utilizing spaces under and around solar farms. Continue reading »
Solar Energy and Agriculture: New Analysis Shows Why Local Context is Key for Planning
April 3, 2024 in Renewable Energy Author: Brian Ross
Land use issues surrounding solar energy and agriculture have the potential to create conflict and slow permitting processes—or they can be an opportunity for designing projects to deliver broad benefits for communities and achieve energy and climate goals. Continue reading »
PV-SuCCESS to Help Communities Harness Ecosystem Benefits of Solar Deployment
October 16, 2023 in Renewable Energy Author: Zane Franke
As demand for and development of solar energy rapidly grows, opposition to large-scale solar projects from host community residents and non-energy stakeholders can hinder the solar permitting processes. This opposition is frequently rooted in stakeholders’ concern for natural resources, agricultural practices, local economic base, and rural character. Continue reading »
Innovative Project Shows How Solar Power Benefits Extend to Sustainable Farming
August 23, 2023 in Renewable Energy Author: Brian Ross
Minnesota’s landmark climate law requires all utilities to accelerate solar and other renewable energy deployment. But the benefits of wind and solar farms can extend far beyond providing emission-free power, including integration with, and support for, the agricultural economic base of states with extensive farmland similar to Minnesota. Continue reading »
GPI to Help More Communities Become Solar Ready with SolSmart
July 11, 2023 in Renewable Energy Author: Sydne Tursky
Since 2016, the federal SolSmart program has helped 500 communities become solar ready. Now, the program is aiming to designate 500 more communities over the next few years. The Great Plains Institute is a SolSmart liaison. Through our recruitment efforts, we’ve helped about 100 communities become solar ready. Most recently, we helped Minnetonka, Minnesota, achieve Bronze designation in the program’s new phase. Continue reading »
