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Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative Submits Letter to California Air Resources Board

February 22, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Katelyn Bocklund

On November 5, 2020, participants in the Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative, a group facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, submitted a letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in response to CARB’s solicitation for feedback following a public workshop focused on the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in October 2020. The letter’s contents urged CARB to include farm-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions factors in lifecycle accounting for biofuels in the next iteration of the LCFS.

Midwestern Clean Transportation Standard 101

February 19, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Dane McFarlane, Katelyn Bocklund, Mariem Zaghdoudi

A clean transportation standard is a technology-neutral, performance-based policy that reduces the use of high-carbon transportation fuels while providing incentives to deploy lower-carbon alternatives such as electricity, hydrogen, and biofuels. We developed this 101 blog to help inform decision makers considering a Midwestern clean transportation standard as well as others that would like to know more about the initiative. Continue reading »

Model Solar Ordinances Developed for Five Midwestern States

February 11, 2021 in Renewable Energy Author: Emma Parkson

Across the US, states, cities, corporations, and utilities are placing an increased focus on electrification of energy loads as a primary pathway to decarbonization and setting ambitious renewable energy and carbon-free energy targets. This transition will require a major expansion of renewable energy capacity. To help communities prepare for such large-scale development, GPI developed model solar ordinances for five Midwestern states in 2021. In 2024, we have revamped the Illinois model solar ordinance to align with the state’s new Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).

Year-End Federal Actions to Accelerate Carbon Capture and Removal Deployment

February 9, 2021 in Carbon Management Authors: Jennifer Christensen, Lauren Schultz

Prospects for large-scale deployment of carbon capture technologies in the next decade improved at the end of 2020 due to actions at the federal level. First, the omnibus spending package included both a two-year extension of the 45Q tax credit and massive increases in federal support for research, demonstration, and development of the suite of carbon capture management tools: capture, removal, transport, utilization, and storage. Second, the Internal Revenue Service finalized long-awaited regulations for 45Q that will provide certainty to investors and project developers. These actions boost momentum going into 2021 to grow support for priorities needed to build projects at the speed and scale required for meeting midcentury climate goals.

Database of Climate Ordinances Now Available to Planners

February 8, 2021 in Communities Author: Jessi Wyatt

Planners can now explore a database of climate ordinances in the United States using a new web-based tool developed by the Great Plains Institute (GPI). GPI has been working with two divisions of the American Planning Association—the American Planning Association Sustainable Communities Division and the American Planning Association Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Division—to identify and help develop tools for planners working on climate change in their local communities. Continue reading »

Why Minnesota Cities Need Better Building Codes to Achieve Energy and Climate Goals

February 5, 2021 in Communities Author: Abby Finis

As Minnesota cities work to make progress on energy and climate goals, their efforts may run into a state-level barrier to higher building energy code standards. Seven cities in Minnesota are working together to engage other city leaders across the state to address this barrier by seeking higher energy building standards at the state level for commercial and large multifamily buildings. The Great Plains Institute is leading city engagement in support of this effort as part of a public-private partnership.

Clean Energy Proves It’s Still Possible to Bridge Our Divides

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

It is hard to find words to capture 2020 and yet the year’s tragic features are now seared into our national psyche: images of the US Capitol under siege, the pandemic‘s staggering human and economic toll, long-standing racial disparities and injustices that can no longer be ignored, and a fractured political system and populace, all stressing the foundations of our democratic system of government.

Biochar Roundtable Highlights Opportunities for Commercialization in Minnesota

February 3, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Mariem Zaghdoudi

On November 23, 2020, the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota (BCM) and Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) co-hosted a biochar roundtable to discuss opportunities and limitations of commercializing biochar in Minnesota. The roundtable included a series of expert presentations and a group discussion facilitated by Brendan Jordan, vice president of Transportation and Fuels at the Great Plains Institute, which facilitates the Coalition. Continue reading »

Webinar Series Shows Benefits of Midwestern Clean Fuels Policies Across Industry Sectors

February 2, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Mariem Zaghdoudi

Gathering input from a wide-ranging group of stakeholders, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) has been working to develop and implement clean fuels policies (CFPs) in Midwestern states. A CFP is a technology-neutral, performance-based policy that reduces the use of high-carbon transportation fuels while providing incentives to deploy lower-carbon alternatives such as electricity, hydrogen, and biofuels. GPI has been hosting a webinar series, with each webinar focused on a different low-carbon fuel, as part of our work to educate more stakeholders about the benefits of a CFP.

Looking Back: Progress Made Toward Transportation Electrification in Minnesota in 2020

January 13, 2021 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Katelyn Bocklund

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.

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Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative Submits Letter to California Air Resources Board

Midwestern Clean Transportation Standard 101

Model Solar Ordinances Developed for Five Midwestern States

Year-End Federal Actions to Accelerate Carbon Capture and Removal Deployment

Database of Climate Ordinances Now Available to Planners

Why Minnesota Cities Need Better Building Codes to Achieve Energy and Climate Goals

Clean Energy Proves It’s Still Possible to Bridge Our Divides

Biochar Roundtable Highlights Opportunities for Commercialization in Minnesota

Webinar Series Shows Benefits of Midwestern Clean Fuels Policies Across Industry Sectors

Looking Back: Progress Made Toward Transportation Electrification in Minnesota in 2020

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