This is an exciting time in the electric vehicle (EV) landscape. Tesla just posted a profit for the first time, Volkswagen is helping to build up charging infrastructure across North America, and many other auto manufacturers are committing to an EV future. EVs are gaining traction and slowly transforming car-based mobility in the United States. And here in the central US, momentum is growing with collaborative efforts to drive EV adoption and infrastructure development. Continue reading »
Innovation, Collaboration Lead to First-Ever Commercial Flight Using Low-Carbon Fuel Produced from Captured Waste Gas
January 8, 2019 in Carbon Management, Transportation & Fuels Author: Jennifer Christensen
Manchester, United kingdom – August 30, 2015: Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-443 cn 30885-1268 G-VROS moment after take off from Manchester Airport.
The power of innovation and collaboration was on full display as the first-ever transatlantic, commercial flight using fuel produced from waste gases captured at a steel plant flew from Orlando, FL to London’s Gatwick airport last fall. The flight was the result of a collaboration between Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech, with support from their partner Boeing. Continue reading »
2019 EV Summit: Electrifying Transportation in the Midcontinent
December 19, 2018 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Jill Syvrud
Electric vehicles (EVs) are an essential part of the effort to decarbonize the transportation sector—and the energy system as a whole—by midcentury. When combined with a decarbonized electricity sector, EVs can contribute to rapid decarbonization of transportation while bringing many other economic and public health benefits.
New Series on Electric Vehicle Progress in the Central US – Part One: Utility Programs
November 7, 2018 in Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Charles Griffith, Nick Nigro
When we talk about the parts of the US that have most enthusiastically embraced electric vehicles (EVs), most experts will point to California, and for good reason. Nearly half of all the EVs on the road today are in California and nearly four out of every 100 cars that are sold in the state are EVs. Given the broad benefits of EVs, including lower emissions, lower fuel and maintenance costs, and a great consumer experience, it begs the question: Are there efforts to promote and expand EV adoption throughout the rest of the country? [hint: yes, as we’ll describe] Continue reading »
Q&A with GPI VP Brendan Jordan: The US and EU Experience with Developing Biomass Industries
June 11, 2018 in Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Will Dunder
GPI‘s Brendan Jordan recently presented at the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition in Copenhagen. In a Q&A with GPI’s Will Dunder, Brendan shares some key highlights below from his presentation and some insights gained through experience at the conference which gathered biomass leaders and experts from around the world.
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“Smart” Charging Electric Vehicles with Solar at the Greenway Building
May 25, 2018 in Transportation & Fuels Authors: Dane McFarlane, Katelyn Bocklund, Matt Prorok
Electricity systems are increasingly becoming interactive and dynamic, opening up opportunities for energy technologies to “talk” to each other and create numerous benefits for energy consumers (e.g., increased efficiency, lower costs, and reduced emissions). This opportunity is one that GPI and our partners are exploring through the combination of electric vehicles (EVs) and solar energy.
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Power Couple: Combining Solar and Electric Vehicle Charging to Solve Dual Challenges
May 18, 2018 in Communities, Transportation & Fuels Author: Brian Ross
The modern electric grid often seems like a miracle. Thousands of generating sources, from residential solar power systems to huge power plants, kept in almost instantaneous sync with millions of electricity consumers. All with a reliability rate of better than 99 percent. Continue reading »
Unique collaborative shares guidance on how utilities can increase EV adoption and infrastructure
May 7, 2018 in Energy Systems, Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Jill Syvrud
Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to become an ever-increasing part of the Midcontinent region’s transportation mix. As the demand and utilization of EVs increases, so does the EV-specific demand for electricity, raising many important questions for electric utilities and state and local policymakers. Continue reading »
White Paper: Electric Vehicles Have Potential to Transform the Grid with Previously Unrealized Benefits in the Midcontinent
April 23, 2018 in Energy Systems, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek
The continuing surge in electric vehicle (EV) use has utilities looking to future impacts on the existing grid structure. Now, a unique consortium of stakeholders has released a white paper that shows that grid transformation can not only meet EV demand, but it can simultaneously benefit utility customers, the economy, and the environment. Continue reading »
Capitol Pathways Intern at GPI
April 9, 2018 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek
The Great Plains Institute (GPI) is thrilled to again serve as a host organization for the Capitol Pathways internship program. Organized by the Citizens League, the program “opens access to the Minnesota Capitol to the next generation of leaders of color.” The long-term goal is to make government truly representative of the communities it serves. Continue reading »
