In an exciting new evolution of the Great Plains Institute, I am pleased to announce that Louise Miltich will join us as the organization’s first executive vice president starting April 1.
This new role reflects increasing demand for GPI’s unique blend of energy and stakeholder engagement expertise and consensus-oriented climate solutions, which has driven rapid growth over the past 26 years. Louise will join a growing staff of some 75 dedicated professionals in 17 states and DC, even while we maintain our deep prairie-like roots here in Minnesota and the Midwest.
Louise currently serves as assistant commissioner of regulatory affairs for the Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Resources Division, where she oversees the Division’s work with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on regulatory issues, including Minnesota’s Energy Conservation & Optimization Program, Energy Planning, Energy Rates, and Telecommunications.
Her regulatory experience is just the latest installment in an impressive career spanning the private, NGO, and public sectors. Louise brings just the right mix of expertise, experience, vision, and leadership to help GPI achieve our next level of impact.
“This is a pivotal time in the clean energy transition, and I am so excited to open the next chapter of my career with GPI as its EVP. It is a unique chance to make local and nationwide progress in accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment,” says Louise. “I am proud and grateful for the accomplishments we’ve achieved at the Department of Commerce these last eight years, and joyfully look forward to continuing to serve the public with the talented team at GPI.”
Louise joins GPI as we enter what is possibly the most consequential period in history for clean energy implementation. As EVP, Louise will leverage her decades of experience in all things related to developing and siting energy infrastructure to provide operational and strategic leadership to GPI’s programs and core support services.
This role is critical as GPI looks to “optimize the whole” and leverage our significant growth into achieving our ambitious mission. Louise’s strong relationships and the respect she has earned across labor, industry, government, and NGO sectors fit perfectly with the “honest broker” role that GPI so often plays in advancing clean energy solutions. She is just the right leader at the right time to help GPI fully harness our deep technical and stakeholder engagement expertise to enable diverse interests to overcome barriers to clean energy development by helping them move to “Yes.”
Join me in sharing a warm welcome to Louise!
