The Better Energy Community Blog | Great Plains Institute

Statement on Matt Fry’s Appointment to White House Council on Environmental Quality CCUS Task Force

March 24, 2023 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Darren Goode

The Great Plains Institute released the following statement from Patrice Lahlum, interim vice president of Carbon Management, in response to the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) announcement that Matt Fry, senior policy manager of Carbon Management, will serve on the new Carbon Dioxide Capture, Utilization and Sequestration Federal Lands and Outer Continental Shelf Permitting Task Force:

“Matt is a perfect fit for the important work this task force will undertake to ensure the efficient and responsible permitting processes needed to further deploy carbon management projects and technologies on our federal lands and in the offshore environment. Continue reading »

Statement on Vice President Doug Scott’s Appointment to Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission

March 13, 2023 in Energy Systems, News & Press Author: Darren Goode

MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute released the following statement by President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom:

“We are excited about the announcement that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has appointed longtime Great Plains Institute (GPI) Energy Systems Vice President, Doug Scott, to serve as Chair of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) beginning in June 2023.” Continue reading »

Minnesota Clean Transportation Standard Passes Initial Senate Committee

March 10, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode

If enacted, legislation would be strongest statewide clean transportation standard in the nation and first in the Midwest

March 10, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—The bicameral Clean Transportation Standard Act received initial approval in the Minnesota Legislature with passage March 9 out of the Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Committee.

The bill from Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Scott Dibble (DFL) and Representative Jeff Brand (DFL) is now referred to the Minnesota Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy Committee. Continue reading »

Diverse Coalition Announces Support for Statewide Minnesota Clean Transportation Standard That Would Be Strongest in the Nation

March 9, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode

Automakers, EV, biofuel, and environmental advocates back bicameral legislation with mandatory carbon reduction targets for all Minnesota-supplied fuels

March 9, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—A diverse coalition representing automakers, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and charging providers, biofuel producers, and clean energy and conservation advocates is endorsing new bicameral legislation that would implement a clean transportation standard statewide in Minnesota. If enacted, the legislation would establish the strongest such state standard in the nation. Continue reading »

New Atlas Identifies Top US Regions For Direct Air Capture Deployment

March 1, 2023 in Carbon Management, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Darren Goode

First-of-its-kind analysis examines factors impacting regional suitability for DAC hubs

MARCH 1, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS — A first-of-its-kind atlas identifies seven regions in the United States offering the best array of characteristics to house a direct air capture (DAC) hub. Continue reading »

Updates on the Clean Vehicle Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act

February 27, 2023 in Transportation & Fuels Author: M. Moaz Uddin

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the US Department of the Treasury released additional information on the clean vehicle provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act on March 31, 2023. The information provides further clarity to consumers and businesses on the New Clean Vehicle Credit, the Previously-Owned Clean Vehicle Credit, and the Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles Credit. Continue reading »

Electricity and Efficiency Program Name Change to Energy Systems Program

February 24, 2023 in Energy Systems Author: Doug Scott

We are excited to share important news regarding the evolution of the Electricity and Efficiency program area at Great Plains Institute—this program area will now be called Energy Systems. Continue reading »

Get Involved in GPI’s Newly Launched Carbon Action Alliance

February 23, 2023 in Carbon Management Authors: Bridget Callaghan, Emma Thomley

The growing interest in carbon management—carbon capture, removal, use, transport, and storage—among industry, labor, communities, and the federal government means we have new opportunities to take action on economywide decarbonization—and there’s no time to wait. The Great Plains Institute’s carbon management team launched the Carbon Action Alliance (Action Alliance) in late 2022 to meet this moment of opportunity and urgency. Continue reading »

Navigating Renewable Energy Siting in the Midwest

February 22, 2023 in Communities, Renewable Energy Author: Rachel Percy

Two farmers working in a field with solar panels

Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL

The Renewable Energy Siting Campaign, a new partnership between the Great Plains Institute (GPI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), with funding provided by Crown Family Philanthropies, will engage diverse stakeholders to identify “win-win” synergies that push clean energy development forward across the Midwest while preserving community values, protecting natural resources, and benefiting agricultural systems. Continue reading »

Federally Funded Study Outlines Best Practices for Managing Solar Farm Stormwater Runoff

February 15, 2023 in News & Press, Renewable Energy Author: Darren Goode

First analysis to detail unique characteristics of solar development that improve water quality

FEBRUARY 15, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—Stormwater management practices, permitting, and regulations at solar sites often do not account for the unique characteristics of large-scale solar installations, a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded study has found. Continue reading »

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