The year 2020 was challenging—we worked hard to stay apart, embraced wearing masks everywhere we went, and rediscovered the outdoors. It was a year of immense pain, and we said goodbye to deeply loved friends and family. Restaurants, movie theaters, and other businesses endured trying economic times, or closed altogether, amidst a pandemic that shut down life as we once knew it. As we reflect on the past year, we’re also recognizing where progress was still able to occur, particularly on transportation electrification in Minnesota, which can deliver economic and environmental benefits for the state.
Great Plains Institute convened the first CO2NNECT Virtual event on December 14, which highlighted the recently released and first-of-its-kind analysis from Rhodium Group that focused on the potential job growth and economic impact of carbon capture deployment in the near- to medium-term to help meet midcentury decarbonization goals. The event included an analytical presentation by Rhodium Group followed by a reaction panel discussion moderated by former US Senator Heidi Heitkamp. 
The Minnesota Governor’s Council on Biofuels released its 
GPI’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned it a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. This is the sixth consecutive time that GPI has earned this top distinction. Only 11 percent of the nonprofits Charity Navigator evaluates have received at least six consecutive four-star evaluations, indicating that GPI outperforms most other nonprofits in America. 
