GPI’s Carbon Capture Coalition Releases Federal Policy Blueprint

May 9, 2023 in Carbon Management, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Patrice Lahlum

We need federal and state policies to support carbon management technologies essential to reducing planet-warming carbon emissions in the atmosphere. In a 2023 Federal Policy Blueprint released April 24, the Carbon Capture Coalition outlines a road map on how the 118th Congress can support responsible scale-up of the carbon management industry to accomplish this. Convened by the Great Plains Institute, the more than 100 Carbon Capture Coalition members spanning industry, labor, conservation, environmental policy, and nonprofit organizations joined together to create this consensus-based federal road map. Continue reading »

Carbon Dioxide Transport 101

February 14, 2023 in Carbon Management, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Emma Thomley

As companies across the United States (US) start using carbon capture or direct air capture to reduce the nation’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, we need to plan how we’re going to transport the CO2 to sites for secure geologic storage or utilization. While the US has over 5,000 miles of CO2 pipelines already, we’ll need to expand this infrastructure to use or store captured CO2 and meet our midcentury climate goals. Continue reading »

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

February 1, 2023 in News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers, 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 »

A Road Map for Deploying Carbon Management and Hydrogen in Pennsylvania

October 4, 2022 in Carbon Management, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Emma Thomley, Ryan Kammer

Carbon management and hydrogen technologies can help Pennsylvania meet its climate goals and allow its industries to reduce emissions while continuing to provide local jobs. Deploying these technologies requires careful consideration and examination of the commonwealth’s existing infrastructure, resources, and legislation.

The Great Plains Institute (GPI) recently worked with Team Pennsylvania to develop Successful Deployment of Carbon Management and Hydrogen Economies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a Road Map for Carbon Management and Hydrogen Development in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Continue reading »

GPI Releases Carbon and Hydrogen Hubs Atlas for US Decarbonization

January 31, 2022 in Carbon Management, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Dane McFarlane

Carbon and Hydrogen Hubs atlas cover imageThe 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 »

Stormwater Management in Solar Projects: Barriers and Best Practices

October 6, 2021 in Communities, Renewable Energy, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Brian Ross, Briana Kerber

solar panels during a storm

The site design of a solar project impacts whether a project will improve or negatively impact water quality. Yet solar developers regularly face inconsistent stormwater permitting requirements and standards that were not developed with solar in mind. This can lead to project delay, higher costs, and missed opportunities for environmental benefits. The Photovoltaic Stormwater Research and Testing (PV-SMaRT) project, funded by the US Department of Energy, was created to resolve these issues. 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 minnesota

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 »

Q&A on Best Practices for Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power

April 5, 2021 in Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Carl Linvill, Jamie Scripps, Lola Schoenrich

combined heat and power

Great Plains Institute is excited to publish a new white paper, Best Practices for Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power (CHP), prepared for GPI by Jamie Scripps of Hunterston Consulting. This paper is a culmination of a years-long collaboration with Jamie and other partners to address barriers to deployment of CHP systems in the Midwest—including the design of standby rates, which are monthly charges to customers with on-site distributed generation like CHP systems. We are grateful for the thoughtful contributions of Carl Linvill of the Regulatory Assistance Project in advising on the starting point for this research, and for his review of the final product. Continue reading »