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Together: Scaling Local Action for the Greatest Climate Impact

June 26, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Morgan Zehner

Children playing in the snowThis blog is one in a series that celebrates the variety of professionals who have been touched by the Great Plains Institute (GPI). Together—GPI’s spring fundraising campaign—showcases people who work in multiple industries and have various constituents and customers, but all play an important role in helping America transform its energy system.

NAME: Larry Kraft

AFFILIATION: City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota

TITLE: At Large Council Member    Continue reading »

How Repowering Aging Renewables in the Midcontinent Impacts Carbon Emissions

June 18, 2020 in Energy Systems Authors: Jessi Wyatt, Maggie Kristian

How Repowering Aging Renewables in the Midcontinent Impacts Carbon EmissionsMany wind and solar energy projects in the Midcontinent will face the decision to repower or decommission as they reach the end of their useful lifespan between 2020-2050. These decisions will impact the energy mix of the existing electricity system—and its carbon emissions. We analyzed potential scenarios for repowering the Midcontinent’s wind and solar energy fleet, sharing potential implications for the region’s electricity system and carbon emissions. These scenarios show why repowering aging renewables in the Midcontinent is important to continue reducing the region’s electricity emissions. Continue reading »

US Cities Step Up to Join a New Clean Energy Challenge

June 15, 2020 in Communities, News & Press Author: Lola Schoenrich

sustainable states network

 

US Cities Step Up to Join a New Clean Energy Challenge

 Initiative supports local clean energy action by 30 cities in 5 states

 

For Immediate Release:  Contact: Lola Schoenrich, Sustainable States Network, Cell: 612-720-9558,  Email: [email protected]

Minneapolis, MN—How well do small and mid-sized US cities stack up when it comes to clean energy goals? That’s what the Sustainable States Community Energy Challenge aims to show with tools and support for 30 communities in five states to assess their clean energy goals and initiatives. The challenge will compare clean energy achievements across similarly-sized cities, assess future initiatives, and provide project implementation assistance. Additionally, participating communities will be a part of an in-state peer cohort and will receive technical assistance to completing a pressing clean energy initiative.

Continue reading »

Together: Creating Technology for Real-World Impact

June 10, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Morgan Zehner

This blog is one in a series that celebrates the wide variety of professionals who have been touched by the Great Plains Institute (GPI). Together – GPI’s spring 2020 campaign – showcases people who work in multiple industries and have various constituents and customers, but all play an important role in helping America transform its energy system. Read all the stories in the Together series here.

Continue reading »

Together: Collaborative, Multi-Sector Efforts Drive Progress on Clean Energy

June 10, 2020 in Carbon Management Author: Morgan Zehner

This blog is one in a series of stories celebrating the wide-variety of professionals who have been touched by the Great Plains Institute (GPI). Together – GPI’s spring 2020 fundraising campaign – showcases people who work in multiple industries and have various constituents and customers, but all play an important role in helping America transform its energy system. Continue reading »

Performance-Based Regulation in Minnesota: A Decade of Progress

June 9, 2020 in Energy Systems Author: Trevor Drake

Performance-based regulation for electric utilities is gaining increased attention across the US. States like Hawaii and New York are already testing new models to align utility performance with public policy goals. Minnesota took a slow and steady approach to performance-based regulation, building a foundation over a decade to ensure that changes to utility regulation are in the public interest and avoid unintended consequences. The development of performance-based regulation in Minnesota continues to garner national attention and was recently the subject of a Smart Electric Power Alliance case study in their three-part best practices toolkit series on the same topic. Continue reading »

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