During 2018-19, 28 Minnesota cities worked together in regional cohorts through the Cities Charging Ahead! (CCA) project to learn and act together to become “electric vehicle (EV) ready communities.” These cities increased their knowledge significantly and made strides toward their goals to foster EV adoption in their communities. CCA, which was led by the Great Plains Institute and Clean Energy Resource Teams, officially wrapped up in June but the cities have expressed an interest in continuing to meet periodically in their regional cohorts. To build on this interest and the knowledge gained through CCA, we’ve developed resources that are now available for other cities to learn from. Continue reading »
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Engaging Communities on Utility-Scale Wind & Solar Development in the Midwest: Part I, Market Drivers
September 9, 2019 in Communities, Energy Systems Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt
In the Midwest, powerful market drivers are creating an attractive environment for investors and developers to build more renewable energy projects and infrastructure. Declining technology costs for utility-scale wind and solar are combined in the region with an abundance of wind and solar resources. As utility-scale renewable energy projects increase across the region, it is important for communities to have an understanding of these market drivers and to prepare for project development and siting. Continue reading »
Seed Grant Applications Open for Clean Energy Projects in Minnesota Communities
September 5, 2019 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) have released the request for proposals (RFP) for the 2020 round of seed grants to catalyze clean energy projects all over the state of Minnesota. Continue reading »
How to Electrify Your Fleet: Lessons from Cities Charging Ahead Fleet Studies
September 4, 2019 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Joe Cella
Stakeholder groups working to increase electric vehicle (EV) adoption often highlight the money you can save by driving an EV over the lifetime of the vehicle as one of several benefits of switching to an EV. Many studies support this finding on EV savings (such as this one from MIT) and have caught the interest of cities which manage a fleet of vehicles. Recently, Minnesota cities working together in the Cities Charging Ahead effort (more info here) saw firsthand through an analysis of their fleet just how much they could save by replacing certain vehicles in their municipal fleets with EVs. Continue reading »
GPI Welcomes New Director of Finance and Administration
August 14, 2019 in News & Press Author: Deborah Karasov
Great Plains Institute (GPI) is pleased to welcome Huong Nguyen as our new director of finance and administration.
Continue reading »
Q&A: Update on Where Things Stand on Standby Rates for Combined Heat and Power
August 8, 2019 in Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jamie Scripps, Lola Schoenrich
Combined heat and power (CHP) projects can deliver significant benefits to the energy system, industries, and utilities and their customers. These benefits include increased energy efficiency, lower emissions, greater system reliability and resilience, and financial savings. Continue reading »
GPI Staff Picks for Summer 2019: What We’re Reading, Listening To, and Watching
August 7, 2019 in News & Press Author: Jennifer Christensen
From podcasts to the latest analysis, you can check out what we’re reading, listening to, and watching in this regular series (view previous GPI staff picks). Continue reading »
Exploring Renewable Energy Procurement Options with Cities
August 1, 2019 in Communities Author: Abby Finis
Cities and other local governments are actively participating in the renewable electricity market. Whether they’re participating for environmental or economic purposes (or both), communities continue to see the benefits of clean electricity and seek opportunities to add more for government operations and more broadly for residents and businesses. Navigating renewable energy procurement can be complex, especially as additional purchasing options become available. Continue reading »
Analysis: How Demand Charges Impact Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Infrastructure
July 31, 2019 in Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Authors: Dane McFarlane, Matt Prorok
GPI recently released a white paper analyzing the economics of direct current fast charging (DCFC) as part of our work with the Midcontinent Transportation Electrification Collaborative (MTEC). DCFC stations are critical for widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) because they provide access to much faster battery charging in public places and along major driving routes and highways. The white paper focused on a specific barrier to increased DCFC stations in the region: electric utility demand charges. Continue reading »
National and State Recognitions for Solar Possible Program
July 23, 2019 in Communities, News & Press Author: Gail Nosek
The collaborative Solar Possible program has earned both national and state recognitions for its unique cohort model that helps government entities overcome barriers to solar adoption. Continue reading »
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