How can city environmental commissions connect with and learn more from each other? Commissioners from the Minneapolis, MN metro area and other stakeholders recently gathered to foster such connections and explore how they could increase learning opportunities with one another. Continue reading »
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GPI Staff Picks for Spring: What We’re Reading, Listening To, and Watching
May 23, 2018 in News & Press Author: Jennifer Christensen
From videos to the latest analysis, you can check out what we’re interested in right now. Also view previous GPI staff picks from this series, which launched in 2017. Continue reading »
Power Couple: Combining Solar and Electric Vehicle Charging to Solve Dual Challenges
May 18, 2018 in Communities, Transportation & Fuels Author: Brian Ross
The modern electric grid often seems like a miracle. Thousands of generating sources, from residential solar power systems to huge power plants, kept in almost instantaneous sync with millions of electricity consumers. All with a reliability rate of better than 99 percent. Continue reading »
The May GreenStep Cities workshop focused on walkable cities and pedestrian planning. After Philipp Muessig (MPCA) introduced the topic and facilitated a round of introductions (00:00:20), Emily Smoak (MDH) discussed Pedestrian Plans, including sidewalk repair and snow clearing practices (00:17:43). Next, Max Musicant (Musicant Group) gave a presentation about Placemaking Successes (00:48:40), and Fay Simer (City of St. Paul) discussed her work as a full-time pedestrian coordinator (01:22:00). The workshop closed after some time for discussion and questions from the audience (01:50:28). Continue reading »
Unique collaborative shares guidance on how utilities can increase EV adoption and infrastructure
May 7, 2018 in Energy Systems, Transportation & Fuels Authors: Brendan Jordan, Jill Syvrud
Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to become an ever-increasing part of the Midcontinent region’s transportation mix. As the demand and utilization of EVs increases, so does the EV-specific demand for electricity, raising many important questions for electric utilities and state and local policymakers. Continue reading »
State and Federal Leaders to Discuss Energy and Environmental Developments in the PJM Region
April 27, 2018 in Carbon Management, Energy Systems Author: Doug ScottUtilities and regulators face an increasingly complex task when responding to the changing power generation mix. They must consider the impact of market rules, legislation, reliability, resilience, cost and environmental issues, just to name a few.
With that in mind, it’s vital to gather the key players, stakeholders, and thought leaders in this sector to discuss issues and generate solutions. That’s the purpose of the “Energy and Environmental Developments in the PJM Region,” event taking place in Washington, D.C. on May 2, 2018. Continue reading »
White Paper: Electric Vehicles Have Potential to Transform the Grid with Previously Unrealized Benefits in the Midcontinent
April 23, 2018 in Energy Systems, News & Press, Reports & Whitepapers, Transportation & Fuels Author: Gail Nosek
The continuing surge in electric vehicle (EV) use has utilities looking to future impacts on the existing grid structure. Now, a unique consortium of stakeholders has released a white paper that shows that grid transformation can not only meet EV demand, but it can simultaneously benefit utility customers, the economy, and the environment. Continue reading »
GPI’s Anniversary: Celebrating Milestones and Looking to the Future Together
April 19, 2018 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom
This year, the Great Plains Institute is thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our founding as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Looking back at our impact, I’m energized by the progress we’ve made and filled with a sense of possibility. Continue reading »
GuideStar Recognizes GPI as a Leading Nonprofit for Transparency and Financial Accountability
April 19, 2018 in News & Press Author: Eric Schroeder
We’re proud to say that the Great Plains Institute was recently recognized with the 2018 Silver Seal on our GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. The award recognizes nonprofit transparency and financial accountability.
Continue reading »
The April GreenStep Cities workshop focused on racial equity. Abby Finis (Great Plains Institute) introduced Gordon Goodwin, the Midwest Region Project Manager for the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). Gordon gave a presentation about the importance of racial equity, facilitated a discussion with the audience, and described the work of GARE (2:00). Kevin Frazell and Danielle Cabot (League of Minnesota Cities) then gave an overview of LMC’s involvement with GARE and how LMC has begun to incorporate racial equity into its internal and external work (1:07:40 ). Continue reading »
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