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The Better Energy Community is constantly growing and evolving.

Read about our latest projects and successes on our blog.

Community-Driven Solar Siting in Minnesota

August 24, 2021 in Communities Author: Jessi Wyatt

Photo courtesy of Jean Christoffels

Community-driven decision-making on land use is critical to the continued buildout of large-scale renewable energy. GPI recently piloted a process and design tool for communities to identify local solar development sites with multiple benefits. The pilot project involved residents of Murray County in southwest Minnesota who used community-informed geospatial analysis to help plan for solar development in the area. The project united community values like clean drinking water and agricultural preservation with future solar development. Continue reading »

Why Fulfilling Our “Justice For All” Pledge Is Savvy Business and Key to a Net-Zero Carbon Economy

August 4, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom

Rolf Nordstrom

This blog was originally published by Forbes Business Council.

Most of us remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each school day, ending with “and liberty and justice for all.” But what does justice mean in practice? What does it have to do with climate change? And why should business and the growing throng of people, institutions and governments pushing for a net-zero carbon economy care? Continue reading »

Great Plains Institute Joins More than 160 Labor Unions, Conservation and Environmental NGOs, and Industry Organizations to Urge Congress to Scale Carbon Management Priorities

August 3, 2021 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Rebecca Lentz

US Congress Building

(Washington, DC) – Today, Great Plains Institute joined more than 160 companies, labor unions, conservation and environmental groups, and other organizations from around the nation in a letter to Congressional leaders urging the inclusion of a comprehensive suite of bipartisan carbon management policies in any larger legislative vehicle this Congress. Continue reading »

Climate and Sustainability Data and Metric Tracking Tools for Communities

July 29, 2021 in Communities Authors: Abby Finis, Jessi Wyatt

st. paul minnesota

Climate change is here, it is wreaking havoc, and no community is immune from its impact. Summer 2021 alone saw heavy flooding across the globe, including in the United States. Fire clouds started wildfires across Alberta, and the US and Canada saw record-breaking, debilitating heat and equally extreme drought. As communities struggle to cope, there is growing recognition that local and place-based action is essential to addressing climate change. For this reason, the Great Plains Institute is excited to share new planning tools we’ve developed to help communities in the US succeed on climate action.

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All Clean Fuel Producers Could Be Winners with Minnesota’s Future Fuels Act

July 28, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Brendan Jordan

clean fuels

The Future Fuels Act introduced in the Minnesota State Legislature during the 2021 legislative session set a goal of reducing transportation fuel carbon intensity by 20 percent by 2035 and promised to boost the state’s economy and prove a host of co-benefits. As we talked to Minnesota legislators about the proposed clean fuels policy for the state, the question always arose—what impact will this have in my community? Continue reading »

Renewable Natural Gas and Anaerobic Digestion 101

July 23, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Mariem Zaghdoudi

anaerobic digestion

The production of renewable natural gas from anaerobic digestion presents a win-win scenario: diverting organic waste from landfills while producing a lower-carbon alternative to conventional natural gas that can be injected into existing pipelines and used as vehicle fuel. This post provides an overview of renewable natural gas from anaerobic digestion and its benefits.

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Midcontinent Transportation Electrification Collaborative Urges Congress to Pass Federal Economic Recovery Measures Benefiting the Region

July 20, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Katelyn Bocklund

electric vehicle

Participants in the Midcontinent Transportation Electrification Collaborative (MTEC) recently submitted letters to congressional leadership, Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, and Energy Secretary Granholm regarding federal economic recovery opportunities that could create vast transportation electrification investments in the Midcontinent region. Continue reading »

Funding Available for Community-Based Clean Energy Projects Across Minnesota

July 19, 2021 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown

funding for clean energy

Every two years, the Clean Energy Resource Teams, or CERTs, issues a request for proposal (RFP) to provide seed funding to clean energy projects across Minnesota. The seed grant RFP for 2022 is now out and applications are due at 4 p.m. on October 8, 2021. The RFP details everything you need to know, including eligibility, contractual terms, materials and submission information, the timeline, review process, and the regional criteria and preferences. Continue reading »

Report: Decarbonizing Minnesota’s Natural Gas End Uses

July 13, 2021 in Energy Systems, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers Author: Trevor Drake

natural gas minnesota

Natural gas is an important energy source for Minnesota’s homes and businesses. But it’s also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. So what do we do?

July 13, 2020, Minneapolis — Natural gas used in homes and businesses is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota, and has been increasing over the last 15 years. These rising emissions threaten our ability to meet state emissions reduction goals. At the same time, natural gas is an especially important fuel in our state, providing heat for most of our buildings and fueling many of our largest businesses. To better understand the complex challenges around reducing emissions from natural gas in Minnesota, the nonprofits Center for Energy and Environment and the Great Plains Institute brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including gas and electric utilities, labor representatives, and clean energy advocates. Continue reading »

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