Recent, bold actions by some of Minnesota’s largest companies, many of which have a national or global presence, reveal a lot about the expected reliability and cost-savings of an increasingly carbon-free electric system in the Midwest and the nation. Continue reading »
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Event Preview: An Expert Workshop for States and Stakeholders in the PJM Region
May 14, 2019 in Energy Systems, News & Press Author: Jill Syvrud
Join the Great Plains Institute and the Nicholas Institute at Duke University in Lexington, Kentucky on June 12, 2019, as we present an expert workshop for states and stakeholders to discuss important issues in the PJM region in 2019. Continue reading »
Why Electric Vehicle Taxes Are the Wrong Strategy for Minnesota
May 8, 2019 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Brendan Jordan
Minnesota lawmakers are considering additional new taxes and fees to electric vehicle (EV) owners. If passed as written, Minnesota would have the highest EV taxes in the US. Currently, the state assesses a special $75 annual tax that is only paid by owners of fully-electric vehicles. A bill by Senator Jeff Howe proposed to raise this tax to $250 per year and add a new tax of $125 for hybrid vehicles. Continue reading »
Energy Data Protocol Developed by Minnesota Utility Energy Registry Project
May 7, 2019 in Communities Author: Lola Schoenrich
Access to utility energy data will play a critical role in the level of success communities achieve in shaping their energy future. That’s why the Great Plains Institute, with our partners and other stakeholders, identified opportunities to improve availability of electric utility data at the community-level and developed a data protocol as a resource for communities. Continue reading »
The EV-olution Comes to Minnesota Communities
May 7, 2019 in Communities, Transportation & Fuels Author: Diana McKeown
Earlier this spring, 100 electric vehicle (EV) stakeholders gathered for a day-long event, “EV-olution: Charging Ahead with Electric Vehicles in Minnesota Communities,” held at the at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The event brought together people from 35 cities, state agencies, all of Minnesota major electric utilities, and nonprofits working in the EV space to accelerate the transition to an electrified transportation system. Continue reading »
Federal 48A Tax Credit Reform Needed for the US to Maintain Global Carbon Capture Leadership and Reduce Emissions
May 1, 2019 in Carbon Management Author: Patrice Lahlum
At a time when the rapid construction of new coal-fired power plants in China, India, and other emerging economies is contributing to significant global emissions growth, it is essential that the US continues to lead the way in commercial deployment of technologies to manage carbon emissions from existing power plants. Continue reading »
Stakeholders Find Common Ground on Minnesota Power Time-Varying Rate Options
April 30, 2019 in Energy Systems Author: Trevor Drake
A recent stakeholder engagement process facilitated by the e21 Initiative (which is co-convened by the Great Plains Institute and Center for Energy and Environment) in collaboration with Minnesota Power proves that stakeholders can find agreement on rate designs that seek to elicit customer, system, and environmental benefits. Continue reading »
Waiting Game Continues: 45Q Carbon Capture Tax Credit Implementation Update
April 30, 2019 in Carbon Management Author: Patrice Lahlum
The clock is ticking. To qualify for the revamped 45Q carbon capture tax credit, a carbon capture project must begin construction by 2023—a very short time frame, especially for carbon capture projects that are capital intensive and have long lead times to develop, permit, and finance. Continue reading »
The Great Plains Institute Names Chief Operating Officer
April 24, 2019 in News & Press Author: Gail Nosek
After an extensive national search, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) has named Deborah Karasov as its new Chief Operating Officer. Deborah brings nearly 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience to the newly created role which will further enable GPI to advance its time-critical mission to transform the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Continue reading »
CEO Rolf Nordstrom Joins Energy Systems Integration Group’s Advisory Council
April 23, 2019 in News & Press Author: Jennifer Christensen
At the invitation of Great Plains Institute (GPI) Board Chair Will Kaul, GPI President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom will join the new Advisory Council for the Energy Systems Integration Group, which works to chart the future of energy systems integration and operations. Continue reading »
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