MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Great Plains Institute President & CEO Rolf Nordstrom announced today that Brian Ross and Abby Finis have joined the GPI team to lead its solar energy development work and contribute to the Institute’s growing practice aimed at helping cities and others achieve their clean energy and sustainability goals. Ross is GPI’s new Senior Program Director and Finis a new Associate with the Institute. “Both Brian and Abby bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in removing market barriers to solar energy development, and helping states and communities become ‘solar ready,’” Nordstrom said. “And both also bring deep expertise on local planning and land use issues, and how local governments can be successful in pursuing clean energy development.” Initially, a major focus for Ross and Finis will be helping four Midwestern states work with their local governments to change policies and regulatory standards to accommodate solar energy development and reduce the time to market. More generally Ross will manage the Institute’s technical and policy programs to help local governments, institutions, and businesses implement solar projects, and other sustainable development practices and policies. He has more than twenty-five years of experience working with local, regional and state governments on sustainable development efforts addressing energy, land use, transportation, water, and natural resources. As a key partner with Brian, Abby Finis will be doing similar work helping communities achieve their clean energy and sustainability goals. Previous to joining the Great Plains Institute, Ross was the Principal at his own consulting practice, CR Planning, primarily helping local governments achieve their sustainable development outcomes. Ross holds a B.A in anthropology from Grinnell College, an M.A. in Urban Planning from the University of Iowa, and is accredited by both the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) as a LEED Green Associate. Finis previously worked with Ross at CR Planning and began her career at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources, where she implemented local government energy efficiency programs. Finis received a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in 2009 and a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Oregon in 2005. ### MEDIA CONTACT: Rolf Nordstrom 612-278-7156 [email protected]
