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Pairing Solar with Managed EV Charging for Distribution Grid Benefit

June 4, 2021 in Communities, Renewable Energy Authors: Brian Ross, Rebecca Heisel

solar plus ev

As utilities and regulators anticipate increased electric vehicle (EV) adoption, they’re assessing how to prepare the electric distribution grid for the additional load. Recent work by the Great Plains Institute (GPI) points to the potential distribution grid benefits of pairing solar production with managed EV charging. Using a newly updated tool from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), GPI explored this value proposition by examining EV charging scenarios alongside solar production. Continue reading »

Benefits for Wood-Based Renewable Diesel in a Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy

May 21, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Hannah Haas

As part of the Great Plains Institute’s work to develop a Midwestern clean fuels policy, we are hosting a webinar series about clean fuels on the market and how those industries could benefit from a regional policy. The most recent webinar explored how a clean fuels policy can create markets for underutilized wood through the production of wood-based renewable diesel in the Midwest. Continue reading »

Carbon Budget 101: What It Is and Why It Matters

May 20, 2021 in Carbon Management Authors: Dane McFarlane, Elizabeth Abramson

Hourglass image with text: What's Our Carbon Budget?

The US—and the world—must dramatically accelerate emissions reductions this decade to prevent dangerous increases in global temperature and achieve a net-zero carbon economy by midcentury. The speed and scale of required reductions can be visualized by looking at our carbon budget. Just like a financial budget sets your spending limits, the carbon budget sets our carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits to avoid additional global temperature rise. Continue reading »

How Companies Can Help Create a Net-Zero Carbon Economy

May 12, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom

rolf nordstrom

GPI President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom wrote “How Companies Can Help Create a Net-Zero Carbon Economy” for the Forbes Business Council website where it was originally published.

Eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from our economy has taken on an air of inevitability. Now it’s just about how fast, who benefits, who pays and what a net-zero carbon economy will be like in practice. Continue reading »

Leaders Discuss Scaling Net-Zero Infrastructure at CO2NNECT Virtual

April 27, 2021 in Carbon Management Author: Jill Syvrud

c02nnect

Great Plains Institute hosted the second CO2NNECT virtual event, Scaling Net-Zero Infrastructure: The Climate, Jobs, and Investment Benefits of Deploying CO2 Transport and Storage,” on April 20, 2021.

This virtual event highlighted the essential importance of carbon dioxide (CO2) transport and storage infrastructure in achieving global net-zero emissions and meeting midcentury climate goals, while sustaining and growing a high-wage energy, industrial, and manufacturing jobs base. Continue reading »

GPI Releases Statement on US Carbon Emissions Reduction Target

April 22, 2021 in News & Press Author: Rebecca Lentz

carbon emissions

MINNEAPOLIS—The Great Plains Institute released the following statement today, which can be attributed to GPI President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom, on the newly announced target to cut US carbon emissions in half by 2030:

“The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today is higher than ever in human history, making it all the more urgent for nations of the world to act with urgency to usher in a prosperous net-zero carbon economy that benefits all. More and more people, businesses, cities, states, and countries that account for 70 percent of global GDP, know we must cut emissions in half by the end of the decade if there is any hope of protecting both our environment and economy. Continue reading »

Carbon Capture Potential Spans US

April 21, 2021 in Carbon Management Authors: Elizabeth Abramson, Patrice Lahlum

Map showing geologic storage potential across the US

Capturing and utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential to achieving a clean energy, net-zero carbon future. And reimagining the alignment of industry and infrastructure presents exciting opportunities for states and regions across the country. Deploying CO2 transport and storage infrastructure will enable key sectors of our economy to dramatically reduce their carbon emissions while sustaining and growing domestic industry, manufacturing, and energy production and the high-wage American jobs they support.  Continue reading »

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