During the webinar, GPI's Jessi Wyatt will walk through the high-level findings and key takeaways from the recently released buildings road map. Nick Martin of Xcel Energy and Audrey Partridge of the Center for Energy and Environment will then provide a participant perspective regarding the development of this road map and talk about their work in building decarbonization. Register here and contact Kate Sullivan at [email protected] with any questions.

The first CO2NNECT Virtual event will highlight the release of Rhodium Group’s analysis of U.S. jobs and investment implications on carbon capture deployment to meet global temperature targets. After revealing the results of the national economic impact study, former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp will moderate a reaction panel featuring leaders from labor, industry and NGOs providing perspectives on the importance understanding the jobs implications and potential impact on carbon capture deployment.

Speakers include:
- John Larsen, Director, Rhodium Group
- Heidi Heitkamp, Former U.S. Senator
- Michael LeMonds, Vice President, Environment, Land and Government Affairs, US Cement - LafargeHolcim
- Lynn Scarlett, Chief External Affairs Officer, TheNature Conservancy
- Jessica Looman, Executive Director, Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council

Drive Electric Minnesota and Plug In America are excited to present a free webinar series focused on accelerating electric transportation adoption in 2021, in partnership with Xcel Energy and the Sustainable Growth Coalition. 

In the six-part webinar series (December 1-4, 2020) attendees will learn about several electric vehicle (EV) policy and implementation topics, including: 

• basics and benefits of EVs
• how Minnesota can become a leader in transportation electrification
• policies to implement at the state, city, fleet, and workplace levels
• how the state can overcome the remaining barriers to greater EV adoption

There is also a chance to “drive” electric in our virtual ride and drive webinar! 

Details about each webinar, including speakers and how to register, can be found on the Drive Electric Minnesota web page. 

Drawing on lessons learned from California and Oregon, this webinar focuses on how a clean fuels policy can support the ethanol industry across the supply chain in the Midwest. In this webinar, you will:

• Hear about the Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative
• Learn how a clean fuels program can benefit the ethanol industry
• Gain a better understanding of how ethanol pathways would generate credits
• See analysis modeling credit revenues in various scenarios
• Hear from industry representatives across the ethanol supply chain on how a clean fuels policy could support ethanol initiatives in the Midwest

Featured speakers include:

Brian Jennings, American Coalition for Ethanol
Jessi Wyatt, Great Plains Institute
Kelly Nieuwenhuis, Iowa Corn
Michael Walz, POET
Neil Koehler, Pacific Ethanol & Renewable Fuels Association
Ron Alverson, Farmer

The Midwestern clean fuels policy proposes a market-based and technology-neutral policy with performance-based incentives for any fuel that offers a greenhouse gas advantage, without picking winners or losers. It reduces the use of higher carbon fuels and supports commercial deployment of lower-carbon fuels, including renewable natural gas, biofuels, and electricity for electric vehicles. A Midwestern clean fuels policy could be a game-changer for reducing emissions from the transportation sector, the region’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

Similar policies are major drivers for renewable natural gas and compressed natural gas in markets like California (Low Carbon Fuel Standard) and Oregon (Clean Fuel Standard).

This webinar will provide attendees opportunities to gain insights from experts in several key areas:

• Hear about the Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative
• Learn how a clean fuels program can benefit the renewable natural gas industry
• Gain a better understanding of how renewable natural gas pathways would generate credits
• See analysis modeling credit revenues in various scenarios
• Hear from industry representatives across the renewable natural gas supply chain on how a clean fuels policy could support initiatives in the Midwest

Featured speakers:

• Brad Pleima, Eco Engineers
• Bryan Nudelbacher, US Gain
• Jessi Wyatt, Great Plains Institute
• Neda Hazen, Amp Americas
• Sahar Kamali, Clean Energy
• Sam Wade, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
• Howard Hohl, Sustainable BioWorks, LLC

The Great Plains Institute believes a successful climate strategy must galvanize the center of the country, a heartland of industry, agriculture, innovation, and jobs. Even given the challenges of COVID-19, we see a new window of opportunity for a “center-out” strategy that brings together the Midwest and Gulf Coast states to take meaningful action toward a zero-carbon economy in the US.

Join us on October 28^th as we share highlights of our work at the forefront of America’s transition to a zero-carbon economy.

Agenda:

1:00 pm – 1:05 pm: Welcome
Rolf Nordstrom, President & CEO, Great Plains Institute

1:05 pm – 1:20 pm: As the Center Goes, So Goes the Country
Rolf Nordstrom, President & CEO, Great Plains Institute

1:20 pm – 1:30 pm: To Change Everything, We Need Everyone
Aimee Witteman, Director of the U.S. States Policy Initiative, Climate Imperative, a project of Energy Innovation and former Midwest Climate & Energy Program Director, McKnight Foundation

1:40 pm – 1:55 pm: Live Q&A

1:55 pm – 2:00 pm: Closing Remarks

Join Metro CERT for a focused conversation about the rebuild efforts across the Twin Cities in the wake of George Floyd’s killing.

We will hear from community members about their efforts and needs, and about the ways state and local entities can and are providing resources related to clean energy and resilience.

Join President & CEO Rolf Nordstrom as he and our program experts share highlights of our work at the forefront of America’s transition to a zero-carbon economy. The conversation will be streamed live on GPI's YouTube channel.

Agenda:

1:00 pm: Welcome & Introduction, Morgan Zehner, Director of Development

1:05pm: Center Out: A Strategy for Climate Success, Rolf Nordstrom, President & CEO

1:25pm: GPI Leadership Panel: The New Landscape of the Clean Energy Transition

• Brad Crabtree, Carbon Management

• Brendan Jordan, Transportation & Fuels

• Lola Schoenrich, Communities

• Doug Scott, Electricity & Efficiency

Moderator: Gail Nosek, Communications Director

1:50pm: Supporter Remarks, Lynn K. Hobbie, Madison Gas and Electric

1:55pm: Concluding Remarks

Please join us for what promises to be a compelling conversation about how we can build the momentum necessary to meet our climate obligations and jump start a sustainable economic recovery that advances our clean energy transformation.

Great Plains Institute is proud to be a supporting partner for this international conference, dedicated to addressing the climate crisis through policy, innovation, and business solutions. Find out more and receive a 15 percent discount on your registration using the code CLC-GPI-15.