Midwestern Power Sector Collaborative: 2013 Recommendations to the EPA

December 6, 2013 in Reports & Whitepapers

Coal-based power companies, environmental organizations and state regulators achieved common ground on recommendations to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding potential regulation of carbon emissions from existing power plants in a region that generates most of its electricity from coal.  These recommendations were developed by the Midwestern Power Sector Collaborative, which is convened by the Great Plains Institute, Pace Center and World Resources Institute. Continue reading »

Summary: Midwestern Briefing on America’s Power Plan

November 24, 2013 in Reports & Whitepapers

America’s Power Plan is a policy roadmap for dealing with disruptive challenges in the power sector and achieving a high-renewables future. Curated by the Energy Foundation in partnership with Energy Innovation, it features a series of eight white papers. As part of the rollout for America’s Power Plan (APP), the Great Plains Institute hosted and facilitated a meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 26, 2013 to brief stakeholders on the project and gather input on how components of APP could be most effectively applied to the Midwestern region. Continue reading »

Fact sheet: Ohio Combined Heat and Power

October 23, 2013 in Reports & Whitepapers

There is tremendous opportunity to increase the implementation of combined heat and power (CHP) systems in many Midwestern states. This fact sheet summarizes current and technical potential of CHP implementation in Ohio. The fact sheet also gives an overview of the current CHP policy environment and documents the number of industrial facilities that will be impacted by EPA air quality regulations. 

 

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Fact sheet: Wisconsin Combined Heat and Power

October 23, 2013 in Reports & Whitepapers

There is tremendous opportunity to increase the implementation of combined heat and power (CHP) systems in many Midwestern states. This fact sheet summarizes current and technical potential of CHP implementation in Wisconsin. The fact sheet also gives an overview of the current CHP policy environment and documents the number of industrial facilities that will be impacted by EPA air quality regulations. 

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Fact sheet: Iowa Combined Heat and Power

October 23, 2013 in Reports & Whitepapers

There is tremendous opportunity to increase the implementation of combined heat and power (CHP) systems in many Midwestern states. This fact sheet summarizes current and technical potential of CHP implementation in Iowa. The fact sheet also gives an overview of the current CHP policy environment and documents the number of industrial facilities that will be impacted by EPA air quality regulations. 

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Fact sheet: Indiana Combined Heat and Power

October 23, 2013 in Reports & Whitepapers

There is tremendous opportunity to increase the implementation of combined heat and power (CHP) systems in many Midwestern states. This fact sheet summarizes current and technical potential of CHP implementation in Indiana. The fact sheet also gives an overview of the current CHP policy environment and documents the number of industrial facilities that will be impacted by EPA air quality regulations. 

 

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Energy Star Buildings: A Minnesota Market Report

October 23, 2013 in Efficiency, Reports & Whitepapers

Buildings with an ENERGY STAR certification use 35 percent less energy on average than typical buildings, and cumulatively achieve over $2 billion in annual cost savings. Over 300,000 buildings across the country, representing over 40 percent of the commercial market, measure and track their energy use with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager—the tool that identifies potential eligibility for certification.

The purpose of this report is to characterize the market uptake of the ENERGY STAR certification for buildings in Minnesota, which has grown from three buildings in 1999 to 561 certified buildings as of September 15th, 2013. Collectively, certified buildings in Minnesota represent nearly 105 million square feet of floor space.
Map of Energy Star Certified Buildings in Minnesota: The map below shows all certified buildings as of September 15th, 2013. Click on a building to see more information.

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Biogas: A huge potential

March 25, 2013 in Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels

The United States produces enough organic waste to exceed EPA’s volume requirements for advanced biofuels every year for the next decade. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates the use billions of gallons of advanced biofuel every year, from 2.75 billion in 2013 to 21 billion in 2022. The US could potentially produce as much as 29 billion equivalent gallons of biogas made from organic waste each year. This fact sheet uses data from a national assessment of renewable natural gas commissioned by the American Gas Association to document the currently untapped potential of organic waste streatms to supply reneawble energy. 

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