The Metro Clean Energy Resource team recently brought people together from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area for its 11th annual event. Highlights from the event, which took place in November 2018, include live polling, a panel of lightning talks focusing on clean energy actions in the metro area, and clean energy action postcards that will be sent to attendees. In this blog, we’ll share some of the results of the discussions and resources shared with attendees. Continue reading »
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GPI Welcomes Kristoffer Acuña to Communities Program
January 9, 2019 in Communities Author: Diana McKeown
I’m pleased to welcome Kristoffer Acuña to the GPI team as a program assistant with the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team (Metro CERT). In this position, Kris will work on the Cities Charging Ahead! project, which aims to help Minnesota cities increase understanding of and make progress toward electric vehicle readiness. Kris will also assist with additional projects for GPI’s work as part of the Metro CERT and other projects that are part of our Communities Program.
Innovation, Collaboration Lead to First-Ever Commercial Flight Using Low-Carbon Fuel Produced from Captured Waste Gas
January 8, 2019 in Carbon Management, Transportation & Fuels Author: Jennifer Christensen
Manchester, United kingdom – August 30, 2015: Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-443 cn 30885-1268 G-VROS moment after take off from Manchester Airport.
The power of innovation and collaboration was on full display as the first-ever transatlantic, commercial flight using fuel produced from waste gases captured at a steel plant flew from Orlando, FL to London’s Gatwick airport last fall. The flight was the result of a collaboration between Virgin Atlantic and LanzaTech, with support from their partner Boeing. Continue reading »
GPI 20th Anniversary Leadership Interview Series: President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom
December 28, 2018 in Carbon Management Authors: Jennifer Christensen, Rolf Nordstrom
Over the last year, GPI celebrated our 20th anniversary as an organization dedicated to transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. As GPI staff, partners, and supporters reflect on the progress we’ve made together and look ahead to future opportunities for even greater impact in 2019 and beyond, we’re sharing a Q&A series we’ve created with our CEO and program leadership team.
Over the past year, we’ve shared stories, news, and publications on that make progress toward our mission of transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and are grateful for our donors, partners, and collaborators who enable us to make an even greater impact.
2019 EV Summit: Electrifying Transportation in the Midcontinent
December 19, 2018 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Jill Syvrud
Electric vehicles (EVs) are an essential part of the effort to decarbonize the transportation sector—and the energy system as a whole—by midcentury. When combined with a decarbonized electricity sector, EVs can contribute to rapid decarbonization of transportation while bringing many other economic and public health benefits.
Energy Storage: Reflecting on Progress and Finding New Opportunities
December 12, 2018 in Carbon Management, Energy Systems Author: Matt Prorok
2018 has been a big year for energy storage in the Midwest and across the country. Between the hundreds of megawatts (MW) that have been deployed and are now operational to the detailed policy work to enable the next wave of business models, there has been no shortage of work for energy storage wonks. Continue reading »
Opportunities to Increase Small Business Engagement on Energy
December 11, 2018 in Communities, Energy Systems Authors: Jordana Palmer, Matt Kazinka, Trevor Drake
In 2014, we wrote about “A New Approach to Small Business Energy Efficiency,” in which we described the unique barriers—time, knowledge, and trust—that small businesses face in identifying and enacting energy efficiency improvements. We proposed that the best solution may not be a technological one, but a social one—partnering with individuals who have existing relationships with small businesses in their community and training them as “energy coaches” who can provide the commitment, information, and trust that resource-limited business owners require. Continue reading »
Powering the Future in Rural Minnesota: Assessing Views of Solar Energy as a Local Resource
December 7, 2018 in Communities Authors: Brian Ross, Jenna Greene
Like many parts of the US, communities in rural Minnesota are experiencing growing interest among residents and businesses in development of an untapped, local economic resource: solar energy. To help communities understand and plan for development of solar resources, the Great Plains Institute has engaged local leaders to identify key gaps in information, challenges, and opportunities associated with such development. Continue reading »
Cities Need Forecasted Data to Make Impactful Emissions Reductions
December 6, 2018 in Communities Author: Abby Finis
Cities have a greater ability than they realize to bend the emissions curve toward a low-carbon future. From zoning, to line-items in the city budget, to projects included in a capital improvement program; there are touchpoints in the regulatory, policy, and planning authority of local governments that can be leveraged to influence carbon emissions within their jurisdictions. Continue reading »
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