The annual Environmental Initiative Awards were recently announced, with the Energy and Climate award going to the Food Group’s Solar Farmland Access – Emerging Farmers project, which seeks to increase land access for emerging, BIPOC, and immigrant farmers by utilizing spaces under and around solar farms. Continue reading »
Important progress to establish the first clean transportation standard (CTS) program in the Midwest continues, with Minnesota and Illinois currently taking the lead. In both states, legislative committees recently held hearings to discuss CTS bills. Here is what you need to know: Continue reading »
Land use issues surrounding solar energy and agriculture have the potential to create conflict and slow permitting processes—or they can be an opportunity for designing projects to deliver broad benefits for communities and achieve energy and climate goals. Continue reading »
MINNEAPOLIS — Today, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) announced the launch of Charging Smart designation program that prepares and recognizes communities for electric vehicle (EV) readiness. Charging Smart is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office. Continue reading »
New analyses commissioned by the Great Plains Institute project that adopting a clean fuel standard would bring about economic and air quality benefits for Michiganders while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. Michigan is one of several Midwestern states working to pass legislation to implement the technology-neutral, market-based policy, also known as a low-carbon fuel standard, clean transportation standard, or clean fuels policy. Continue reading »
In an exciting new evolution of the Great Plains Institute, I am pleased to announce that Louise Miltich will join us as the organization’s first executive vice president starting April 1. Continue reading »
MINNEAPOLIS – February 6, 2024 – NextGen Highways announced today the launch in Minnesota of its first state coalition to promote the co-location of utility and telecommunication infrastructure in existing corridors, like highways and interstates, to speed development critical for the clean energy transition. Continue reading »
February 1, 2024, MINNEAPOLIS— The Minnesota Future Fuels Coalition applauds a diverse working group headed by Minnesota state agencies for cementing and detailing support for a first-of-its-kind statewide clean transportation standard.
The Clean Transportation Standard Work Group released a new report and recommendations today underscoring the “transformative emissions reduction” and other benefits to Minnesota becoming the first Midwestern state to issue such a standard. Continue reading »
CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) just announced its 2024 selection of projects to receive seed grant funds for kickstarting community-based clean energy projects across the state of Minnesota. The seed grants are offered every other year through a request for proposals process. Continue reading »
The Great Plains Institute’s “Louisiana Decision Support Tool“ (Decision Support Tool) for carbon management offers a way for community members, project developers, and regulators to delve into social and environmental data to learn more about local factors to consider when locating energy projects. Continue reading »
