In part one of this blog series, we explored the rapid rise in electric bike (e-bike) usage and the public investments fueling this trend. E-bikes can play a key role in building a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable transportation system that reduces dependence on personal vehicles, an important part of GPI’s work to decarbonize transportation. State rebate programs and local incentives have made e-bikes more accessible than ever. Continue reading »
Climate change in the Midwest could degrade one of our forest’s primary defenses—cold weather—against an invasive beetle known as the emerald ash borer. As the tiny invader continues its spread in the Midwest, GPI is examining its impact in our home state of Minnesota. The beetle eventually kills a large number of trees in its path, generating large volumes of biomass in the form of wood waste. Continue reading »
Electric bikes (e-bikes) have taken the United States by storm. Whether using a traditional e-bike to commute up a particularly daunting hill, an e-cargo bike to get a child to school, or an e-bikeshare bike to meet friends for dinner, the comfort and convenience provided by a small electric motor allow folks of a broad range of ages and abilities to hit the streets. Continue reading »
Senator David Koehler introduced the Illinois Clean Transportation Standard Act, Senate Bill 41, in January 2025. The bill would require transportation fuel producers to reduce the carbon intensity of their fuels by 25 percent below 2019 levels within 10 years and would support the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner fuels. Continue reading »
The Great Plains Institute has developed a comprehensive lifecycle assessment study that analyzes and compares the lifecycle emissions of electric vehicles (EVs) and conventional vehicles. The tool study evaluates and compares the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the two vehicle types. Continue reading »
In March, Minnesota House Transportation Committee Co-Chair Erin Koegel introduced the Minnesota clean transportation standard (CTS), House File 2847. On behalf of the Future Fuels Coalition, the Great Plains Institute commissioned analyses to better understand the potential benefits of the proposed program. Continue reading »
Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant popularity over the last decade and are part of the collective solution toward a cleaner energy future. Yet, some drivers still have questions about their cost, emissions, and safety, among other things. Continue reading »
The US school bus system, with almost half a million buses, is the country’s most extensive mass transit system, carrying over 21 million children to school daily. This post explores the opportunities that electrifying this vast fleet presents for states and electric utility companies to achieve positive health, environmental, and economic development outcomes. Continue reading »
Advocates, government staff, and bicycle enthusiasts from across the state gathered to discuss the growing world of e-bikes, the benefits of electrified mobility, and the remaining challenges to wider adoption. Continue reading »
Minnesota is one of a few Midwestern states considering clean transportation standard (CTS) legislation to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels used in the transportation sector. Similar bills are also under consideration in Michigan and Illinois. If passed, a CTS would build upon Minnesota’s recent commitment to 100 percent clean electricity and secure the state’s position as a regional and national clean energy leader. Recent analysis shows how such a policy could drive investment in and adoption of clean fuels in Minnesota, including by supporting the deployment of more electric vehicles. Continue reading »
