The U.S. electricity system is in a period of rapid change, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who disagrees. We have a grid in need of significant updates, given the 21st century policy and business demands confronting the electric power industry. Continue reading »
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Norwegian Leaders to Visit North Dakota: Fostering Cooperation in Building the Energy Economy of the Future
September 20, 2013 in News & Press
FARGO – A Norwegian delegation including Jostein Mykletun, Consul General of Norway at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Houston, Texas, will travel to North Dakota this week to visit the state’s booming oil patch and meet with state and local leaders and higher education officials. The visit will focus on the exchange of information and ideas on energy policy and technology best practices in areas of mutual importance to Norway and North Dakota. Continue reading »
Biogas as Transportation Fuel: A Strong Start
July 22, 2013 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
In my last Biomass Magazine column, I wrote about the enormous potential of biogas in meeting our transportation needs and as a component of a diverse fuel mix. New projects and data are demonstrating that biogas as a transportation fuel is no longer a vision, but a market reality. Under both the federal renewable fuel standard 2 (RFS2) and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, biogas is an emerging contributor to a diverse, low-carbon fuel mix. While progress is encouraging, there is still a large amount of untapped potential, leaving plenty of room for expansion and opportunity for innovative project models.Mapping Tool Assists Long-Term Transmission Planning
June 20, 2013 in News & Press Author: Jennifer Christensen
A new mapping tool, called the EISPC EZ Mapping Tool, is assisting planners, policymakers, project developers and others in identifying clean energy resources, policies, and project screening factors that can be used for planning transmission infrastructure in the Eastern Interconnect. Continue reading »
Key Infrastructure Projects for Clean Energy Expansion in the Midwest
June 11, 2013 in Energy Systems Author: Mike Gregerson
Great Plains Institute, in collaboration with the Midwestern Governors Association, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), and regional NGO’s, has worked on moving the region forward on critical transmission plans and projects which will significantly increase the capability of the region to produce much needed wind energy. Continue reading »
Biogas Contributes to a Diverse Renewable Fuel Mix
May 21, 2013 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Amanda Bilek
Biogas energy systems have typically been considered a source of renewable electricity and/or combined heat and power, but several projects across the U.S. are demonstrating the suitability of biogas as a transportation fuel. Using biogas as a supply source of lower-carbon, domestic, renewable fuel is an exciting prospect, even in the face of abundant natural gas supplies and low prices. Continue reading »
Highlighting the Benefits of the CapX2020 Transmission Projects
April 20, 2013 in Energy Systems Author: Mike Gregerson
Great Plains Institute, with the support of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA), worked with the CapX2020 project team to create a video and other materials highlighting the significant local economic development and jobs impacts of the CapX2020 transmission projects, which total a capital investment of over $2.2 billion dollars. Continue reading »
I am honored to be writing my first column for Biomass Magazine focused on the U.S. biogas sector. I have worked on biogas energy systems for the past decade, and it is exciting to finally be at a point where increased interest in this valuable and underutilized technology is starting to build. But make no mistake, there is far more work to be done to fully take advantage of the enormous potential of biogas. Continue reading »
The United States produces enough organic waste to exceed EPA’s volume requirements for advanced biofuels every year for the next decade. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates the use billions of gallons of advanced biofuel every year, from 2.75 billion in 2013 to 21 billion in 2022. The US could potentially produce as much as 29 billion equivalent gallons of biogas made from organic waste each year. This fact sheet uses data from a national assessment of renewable natural gas commissioned by the American Gas Association to document the currently untapped potential of organic waste streatms to supply reneawble energy.
The Midwestern Combined Heat and Power Opportunity
February 25, 2013 in Efficiency Author: Lola SchoenrichIn August of 2012 President Obama issued an Executive Order on Industrial Energy Efficiency and Combined Heat and Power. The Executive Order sets a goal of adding 40 GW of new CHP by 2020, raising the nation’s CHP capacity by 50%. Why would we do that? What is CHP anyway? Continue reading »
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