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 »
Clean Transportation Standards: A Win-Win for Electric Vehicle Adoption and Climate
October 3, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Carolyn BerningerTransportation emissions remain the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions nationwide. Regulatory actions and policy proposals at the federal and state levels aim to reduce these emissions. The federal government recently announced updated regulations requiring vehicle manufacturers to reduce emissions from the vehicles they produce, and automakers can meet these requirements by producing cleaner gas cars and more electric vehicles. Although meaningful, vehicle regulations alone will not be sufficient to achieve necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. Continue reading »
Shared and Active Transportation is Essential to Decarbonization
August 27, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Aaron WestlingDecarbonizing the transportation sector will require a multi-pronged approach, and GPI is pursuing various strategies, including promoting electrification and low-carbon fuels. However, to achieve our vision of an equitable net-zero carbon economy, we also must also advance shared and active mobility. Continue reading »
Argonne and GPI Launch R&D GREET Train-the-Trainer Program
August 12, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Gabrielle OlsonThe Great Plains Institute (GPI), in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) and with support from the US Department of Energy (DOE), just launched the newly developed R&D GREET Train-the-Trainer program. GREET, which stands for Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies, is a life cycle analysis tool, and R&D GREET is a specific model. Continue reading »
Report: Lessons Learned from Twin Cities Climate and Energy Community Engagement Efforts
July 19, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Katelyn BocklundThe Great Plains Institute (GPI) launched the community engagement phase of its Electric Vehicle Education for All initiative in February 2024, subcontracting with three community-based organizations to carry out the engagement. Our initiative seeks to deeply engage frontline and historically marginalized communities within the Twin Cities area to learn firsthand how they perceive electric mobility, identify electric mobility literacy gaps, and provide educational materials to increase access to electric mobility benefits. Continue reading »
Unpacking the New EPA Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Rule
May 31, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: M. Moaz UddinThis spring, the US Environmental Protection Agency marked a significant advancement toward achieving air quality improvements across the country by establishing the most stringent greenhouse gas regulations for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to date. The new standards address the critical need to reduce emissions from these vehicles. Continue reading »
Unpacking the New EPA Light- and Medium-Duty Vehicle Emissions Rule
April 9, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: M. Moaz UddinOn March 20, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final vehicle standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles. These rules are meant to reduce air pollution by limiting vehicle tailpipe emissions. The regulations will allow American consumers to choose more cost-effective, eco-friendly vehicles, resulting in annual savings on fuel and upkeep expenses. Continue reading »
Minnesota and Illinois Clean Transportation Standard Bills Receive Committee Hearings
April 5, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Mariem ZaghdoudiImportant progress to establish the first clean transportation standard (CTS) program in the Midwest continues, with Minnesota and Illinois currently taking the lead. In both states, legislative committees recently held hearings to discuss CTS bills. Here is what you need to know: Continue reading »
Analyses Show Economic and Air Quality Benefits of a Clean Fuel Standard in Michigan
March 11, 2024 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Mariem ZaghdoudiNew analyses commissioned by the Great Plains Institute project that adopting a clean fuel standard would bring about economic and air quality benefits for Michiganders while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. Michigan is one of several Midwestern states working to pass legislation to implement the technology-neutral, market-based policy, also known as a low-carbon fuel standard, clean transportation standard, or clean fuels policy. Continue reading »
Diverse Minnesota Working Group Charts Path for Historic Clean Transportation Standard
February 1, 2024 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren GoodeMinnesota Future Fuels Coalition applauds state working group’s efforts ahead of unprecedented legislative push this year
February 1, 2024, MINNEAPOLIS— The Minnesota Future Fuels Coalition applauds a diverse working group headed by Minnesota state agencies for cementing and detailing support for a first-of-its-kind statewide clean transportation standard.
The Clean Transportation Standard Work Group released a new report and recommendations today underscoring the “transformative emissions reduction” and other benefits to Minnesota becoming the first Midwestern state to issue such a standard. Continue reading »