Do clean fuels standards like the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) increase the price of fuels at the pump? As states in the Midwest consider adopting a clean fuels standard, consumers want to know how such policies will impact their wallets. Continue reading »
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NextGen Highways to Develop Coalitions on Transmission Infrastructure
January 15, 2023 in Energy Systems, Transportation & Fuels Author: Rolf Nordstrom
On January 9, 2022 NextGen Highways issued a press release announcing continued funding from Breakthrough Energy to develop national and state-level coalitions in 2023. The primary focus of these coalitions will be to advocate for the use of existing public rights of way (ROWs) to enable the transmission development needed to meet the nation’s aggressive decarbonization and electrification goals. Continue reading »
Colorado’s Exploration of the Community Choice Energy Model
January 10, 2023 in Energy Systems Author: Aileen Cole
With support from the Great Plains Institute, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) conducted an investigation into the potential implications of community choice energy (CCE) authorization in Colorado. CCE is an alternative to traditional investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative electric supply models and is currently authorized in several other states. Continue reading »
GPI’s Top Ten Stories of 2022
December 30, 2022 in Carbon Management, Communities, Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Jennifer Christensen
Find out what made our list of most-read stories in 2022, which includes posts we’ve published over the last year and a half. Continue reading »
Twin Cities Project to Develop Equitable Solar Access Model for Underserved Small Businesses
December 20, 2022 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
Photo courtesy of Cooperative Energy Futures
Despite increasing solar adoption across the United States, underserved small businesses—especially BIPOC- and immigrant-owned businesses—have historically lacked equitable access to the information, resources, and culturally-appropriate and accessible financing needed to install and receive the benefits of rooftop solar. The Great Plains Institute is a core partner in a newly announced project to help address these inequities in the Twin Cities. Continue reading »
DOE Awards GPI $1.8 Million for Project on Solar Community Ecosystem Benefits
December 13, 2022 in Renewable Energy Author: Brian Ross
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technology Office recently awarded $1.8 million to GPI to lead a new nature-based solutions project, Designing & Deploying Solar Community Ecosystem Benefits. The award was soon followed by newly announced federal efforts to expand support for nature-based climate solutions. Continue reading »
Building a Sustainable Domestic Electric Vehicle Supply Chain: Webinar Highlights
December 13, 2022 in Transportation & Fuels Author: M. Moaz Uddin
On November 9, 2022, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) hosted a webinar, “Building a Sustainable Domestic Electric Vehicle Supply Chain.” The webinar brought experts together to critically examine and identify actions needed to mitigate supply chain issues in the US. Continue reading »
New National Academies Report: Industry, Government Must Move on Carbon Utilization Now
December 1, 2022 in Carbon Management Author: Darren Goode
Industry and government must take steps now toward deploying systems that transform carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into useful products as part of a broader effort to enact a net-zero emissions economy, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Calculate Your Fuel Cost Savings from Switching to an Electric Vehicle
November 8, 2022 in Transportation & Fuels Authors: Emmy Curtiss, M. Moaz Uddin
How much money can US drivers expect to save on fuel by switching to an electric vehicle? We explored this question with Heather Brown on CBS News Minnesota, and now our new calculator helps consumers do the math.
The recent increased volatility in gas prices has left many US drivers looking for alternatives. People are driving less and looking for more efficient vehicles. As consumers increasingly consider electric vehicles, they want to know how to calculate the potential costs and savings.
Gas price volatility driving interest in electric vehicles
The average price per gallon of gas skyrocketed 146 percent to $4.75 in June of this year. That’s up from just $1.93 in April 2020, when the prices plummeted in the early months of the pandemic. Continue reading »
Understanding the Inflation Reduction Act’s Electric Vehicle Tax Credits
November 7, 2022 in Transportation & Fuels Author: M. Moaz Uddin
Electric vehicle tax credits expanded significantly with the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act. While the law expands the prior $7500 federal electric vehicle tax credits by lifting the 200,000-vehicle sales cap for manufacturers to be eligible, it also introduces new requirements for eligibility along with expanding the definition for clean vehicles. Now, vehicles fueled by fuel cell motors can also take advantage of the tax credit. The Inflation Reduction Act also introduces a tax credit for pre-owned electric vehicles. In this post, we highlight key eligibility requirements and share additional consumer resources. Continue reading »
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