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 »
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 »
The transportation sector is the highest-emitting sector of greenhouse gases (GHG) in Minnesota. This post summarizes two of the major transportation policies being developed in Minnesota to address the state’s GHG emissions—Clean Cars Minnesota and the Future Fuels Act. Continue reading »
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 »
This blog post is the first of a new series where we examine the interrelationship between renewable natural gas (RNG) and anaerobic digestion, address the challenges that have hindered commercialization, and highlight exciting opportunities in the industry. Continue reading »
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 »
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 »
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 »
With the rest of the world, we waited nervously for the outcome of the trial of the officer who killed George Floyd. We hope that the jury’s guilty verdict brings some measure of peace and accountability to Mr. Floyd’s family, friends and community, knowing that there is no compensation for their loss, or his. Continue reading »
Stakeholder Group Report Recommends Key Steps for Modernizing Maine’s Electric Grid
For Immediate Release: April 14, 2021
Media Contacts:
Jeremy Cluchey, [email protected], 207-233–2795
Rebecca Lentz, [email protected], 612-978-2849
BRUNSWICK, MAINE — A stakeholder group representing environmental nonprofits, renewable energy developers, electric utilities, consumer advocates, and other energy sector stakeholders has issued a set of nine consensus-based recommendations for steps to plan, build, and operate the electric grid that is needed to meet Maine’s recently established climate and energy requirements. Continue reading »
