GPI 20th Anniversary Leadership Interview Series: Vice President Brendan Jordan, Transportation & Fuels

April 9, 2019 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Jennifer Christensen

Brendan Jordan

Over the last year, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) celebrated our 20th anniversary as an organization dedicated to transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. As GPI staff, partners, and supporters reflect on the progress we’ve made together and look ahead to future opportunities for even greater impact in 2019 and beyond, we’re sharing a Q&A series we’ve created with our CEO and program leadership team.  Continue reading »

Key Findings on Transportation Electrification from the Road Map to Decarbonization in the Midcontinent

April 2, 2019 in Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Franz Litz

A view of a rural highway from aboveElectric vehicles (EVs) are an essential part of the effort to decarbonize the transportation sector by midcentury. Recently, a diverse coalition of stakeholders released analysis, findings, and recommendations on how to accelerate EV adoption in “A Road Map to Decarbonization in the Midcontinent: Transportation Electrification.” This post highlights the findings from the road map, which were developed to help inform decision-making by state and local leaders, policy makers and private sector actors. Continue reading »

Aime Bita Shares Her Experience as a Capitol Pathways Intern

March 29, 2019 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Aime Bita

Aime Bita

My name is Aime Bita, and I am the Capitol Pathways intern for the 2019 legislative session at the Great Plains InstituteAs GPI’s Capitol Pathways intern I am working at the Minnesota State Capitol and at GPI’s office with a focus on transportation policy. This internship is a continuation of my interest in making a positive impact and pursuing new experiences.  Continue reading »

Stakeholders Release “A Road Map to Decarbonization in the Midcontinent: Transportation Electrification”

January 24, 2019 in News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek

A car traveling down the highway

CHICAGO, IL- A diverse coalition of stakeholders has developed a first-of-its-kind road map to illustrate how electric vehicles (EVs) can cut carbon and other harmful pollution while bringing many other important benefits to the Midcontinent region. With the transportation sector representing the largest emitting sector in the U.S. economy, EVs are essential to tackling the decarbonization challenge.    Continue reading »

Ride-Sharing with Electric Vehicles Brings Benefits to Drivers and Consumers

January 17, 2019 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Joe Cella

An electric vehicle ridesharing car, charginggThis 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
the tail of a Virgin Atlantic Aircraft

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

Chicago, over the lake

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.

Continue reading »

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

An Electric vehicle charger in front of transmission lines

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 »