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GPI Announces New Vision, Mission, and Values

August 10, 2023 in News & Press Author: Rolf Nordstrom


I’m pleased to announce the Great Plains Institute’s new vision, mission, and values, which reflect how GPI has grown as an organization and describe the world we’re trying to bring about.

Our new vision is an equitable net-zero carbon economy.

Our new mission is to accelerate the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment.

Our new values—trusted, equitable, inclusive, pragmatic, and transformative—are at the core of our culture and key to our impact.

I invite you to watch our short video, which describes why we’ve revised our mission, vision, and values and what they mean to us. It also describes the monumental opportunity we see to help communities, states, utilities, and other key actors implement clean energy at an unprecedented speed and scale while ensuring that the jobs, wealth creation opportunities, and human health benefits of this global transition are accessible to all.

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Capturing Carbon at Industrial Facilities Leads to Billions of Dollars in Annual US Health Benefits

August 7, 2023 in Carbon Management, News & Press Author: Ben Finzel

First-of-its-kind study quantifies health impact of the co-benefits of reducing other air pollutants with carbon capture technologies

August 7, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—Installing technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial and power facilities has the potential to result in billions of annual health benefits nationwide. These health benefits are directly tied to the reduction of other air pollutants that would also be removed in a carbon capture system, according to a first-of-its-kind study—Carbon Capture Co-benefits: Carbon Capture’s Role in Removing Pollutants and Reducing Health Impacts—from the Great Plains Institute and Carbon Solutions, LLC.

Continue reading »

GPI to Help More Communities Become Solar Ready with SolSmart

July 11, 2023 in Renewable Energy Author: Sydne Tursky

Man installing solar panels on a roof

Since 2016, the federal SolSmart program has helped 500 communities become solar ready. Now, the program is aiming to designate 500 more communities over the next few years. The Great Plains Institute is a SolSmart liaison. Through our recruitment efforts, we’ve helped about 100 communities become solar ready. Most recently, we helped Minnetonka, Minnesota, achieve Bronze designation in the program’s new phase. Continue reading »

Next Steps for a Clean Transportation Standard in Minnesota

June 22, 2023 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Mariem Zaghdoudi

Cars in a parking lot

Despite the national and state momentum and the consistent support from the growing Future Fuels Coalition, the proposed Minnesota clean transportation standard did not pass during the state’s recently adjourned legislative session. Yet progress will continue this summer thanks to legislation requiring the establishment of a working group on a clean transportation standard in the state. Continue reading »

Minnesota’s Historic Legislative Session Delivers Clean Energy, Climate Wins

June 14, 2023 in Communities, Transportation & Fuels Author: Carolyn Berninger

Minnesota legislators and advocates seized a unique opportunity this spring to pass transformative clean energy and climate policy that will jump-start the state’s transition to a lower-carbon economy. The state’s legislative session adjourned on May 22, and it was a busy few months at the Capitol. The state’s historic budget surplus, unified Democrat-Farmer-Labor (DFL) control of state government, and significant federal investments in clean energy set the stage for ambitious policymaking in 2023. Continue reading »

Michigan and Ohio Communities Become the First EV Smart Cohort

June 8, 2023 in Communities Author: Lindsay Stauner

Between good-natured jabs about which state has the better trail system and shared enthusiasm for supporting their communities, 24 local governments from Michigan and Ohio became the first cohort in the novel EV Smart program. EV Smart is a technical assistance program focused on electric vehicle (EV) readiness for local governments. This first cohort was facilitated by Great Plains Institute (GPI), with technical assistance provided by GPI along with in-state partners Clean Fuels Ohio, Michigan Municipal League, and Ecology Center. This cohort was funded by General Motors’ Corporate Giving Climate Fund. Continue reading »

Minnesota Approves Comprehensive Statewide Electric Vehicle Readiness Assistance

May 24, 2023 in News & Press, Transportation & Fuels Author: Darren Goode

 Budget deals significantly elevate state’s effort to expand transportation electrification

May 24, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed into law a sweeping set of first-time incentives and other funding approved by the state legislature that significantly elevates the state’s efforts to expand transportation electrification.    Continue reading »

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