As part of the Grow Solar Partnership, toolkits have been assembled to equip local governments in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois with information regarding solar development as it relates to planning, zoning, and permitting. The toolkits were created in 2016, then model ordinances are being updated in 2020 to reflect new best practices and lessons learned since 2016. Minnesota and Iowa are updated and Illinois and Wisconsin are in process, with ordinance for Indiana and Michigan under development. The purpose of these toolkits is to provide resources that will assist communities in addressing barriers to solar energy installations in a manner tailored to each community’s needs.
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Minnesota’s Forests have Untapped Economic and Environmental Potential
April 7, 2020 in News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek
A new analysis by the Great Plains Institute shows the challenges as well as the vast untapped opportunities for Minnesota’s forestry industry. Full press release is below. Continue reading »
Solar and Wind in Wisconsin: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects
April 2, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt
The Great Plains Institute is engaging local governments across the Upper Midwest on long-term planning for renewable energy. As part of this effort, we developed a guide to provide communities in Wisconsin with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater. Continue reading »
Solar and Wind in Minnesota: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects
March 23, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt
The Great Plains Institute is engaging local governments across the Upper Midwest on long-term planning for renewable energy. As part of this effort, we developed a guide to provide communities in Minnesota with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater. Continue reading »
Solar and Wind in Iowa: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects
March 9, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt
The Great Plains Institute is engaging local governments across the Upper Midwest on long-term planning for renewable energy. As part of this effort, we developed a guide to provide communities in Iowa with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater. Continue reading »
Climate Action Work Plans Can Provide Cities More Accessible, Near-Term Strategies
February 5, 2020 in Communities, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Abby Finis
I am excited to share that my colleagues and I have developed a new approach for cities to achieve their energy and climate goals more quickly and affordably: climate action work plans. These work plans are intended to support cities in setting near-term targets by creating an implementation schedule with specific steps for completing high-impact actions. Continue reading »
New Report: How a Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest Should Be Designed
January 7, 2020 in News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek
The Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative, facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, has released a new report detailing how a successful clean fuels policy for the Midwest should be designed. Continue reading »
Carbon Capture 101
December 17, 2019 in Carbon Management, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Dane McFarlane, Elizabeth Abramson, Jennifer Christensen
Carbon capture is an essential part of GPI’s work to achieve a zero-carbon energy system by midcentury. GPI engages a broad set of interests at the state and federal levels to increase the deployment of carbon capture projects and infrastructure. We developed a carbon capture 101 fact sheet (PDF and text below) as a starting point for learning about what carbon capture is and why it’s an important economic and environmental strategy.
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Minnesota Department of Transportation Releases Pathways to Decarbonizing Transportation Report
September 18, 2019 in News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek
A new report from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) shows routes to a lower-carbon future for the largest greenhouse gas emitting sector in the state. The Pathways to Decarbonizing Transportation report was created through public input and modeling and outlines recommendations and next steps toward reducing emissions. Continue reading »
Q&A: Update on Where Things Stand on Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power
August 8, 2019 in Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jamie Scripps, Lola Schoenrich
Combined heat and power (CHP) projects can deliver significant benefits to the energy system, industries, and utilities and their customers. These benefits include increased energy efficiency, lower emissions, greater system reliability and resilience, and financial savings. Continue reading »
