The Great Plains Institute is engaging local governments across the Upper Midwest on long-term planning for renewable energy. As part of this effort, we developed a guide to provide communities in Wisconsin with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater. Continue reading »
Solar and Wind in Iowa: A Local Government Guide for Siting Utility-Scale Projects
March 9, 2020 in Communities, Energy Systems, Reports & Whitepapers Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt
The Great Plains Institute is engaging local governments across the Upper Midwest on long-term planning for renewable energy. As part of this effort, we developed a guide to provide communities in Iowa with an overview of long-term utility- and community-scale solar and wind development—systems sized one megawatt (MW) or greater. Continue reading »
Engaging Communities on Utility-Scale Wind & Solar Development in the Midwest: Part III, Local Readiness and Decision-Making
December 10, 2019 in Communities, Energy Systems Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt
Community-scale readiness is critical to the successful development of the Midwest’s abundant solar and wind energy resources. As utility-scale wind and solar development increases in the Midwest, communities should consider how renewable energy development aligns with local goals and values. A series of proactive actions can ensure that the way utility-scale renewables develop in a community is in line with community vision, reduces potential conflict, and optimizes co-benefits. Continue reading »
Engaging Communities on Utility-Scale Wind & Solar Development in the Midwest: Part I, Market Drivers
September 9, 2019 in Communities, Energy Systems Authors: Jenna Greene, Jessi Wyatt
In the Midwest, powerful market drivers are creating an attractive environment for investors and developers to build more renewable energy projects and infrastructure. Declining technology costs for utility-scale wind and solar are combined in the region with an abundance of wind and solar resources. As utility-scale renewable energy projects increase across the region, it is important for communities to have an understanding of these market drivers and to prepare for project development and siting. Continue reading »
GPI Staff Picks for Summer 2019: What We’re Reading, Listening To, and Watching
August 7, 2019 in News & Press Author: Jennifer Christensen
From podcasts to the latest analysis, you can check out what we’re reading, listening to, and watching in this regular series (view previous GPI staff picks). Continue reading »
GPI 20th Anniversary Leadership Interview Series: Vice President Brendan Jordan, Transportation & Fuels
April 9, 2019 in Transportation & Fuels Author: Jennifer Christensen
Over the last year, the Great Plains Institute (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. Continue reading »
How the 2019 Polar Vortex Helped Long-Term Renewable Energy Integration in the Midwest
March 1, 2019 in Energy Systems Author: Matt Prorok
At the end of January, the polar vortex brought bitter cold temperatures to the Upper Midwest of the United States. Some parts of northern Minnesota hit -45°F temperatures with wind chills down to -65°F. The record-setting low temperatures and frigid wind chills posed a safety and reliability threat to the region’s people and infrastructure alike. Continue reading »
The Impact of Wind Generation on Wholesale Electricity Prices in the Midcontinent Market: And Empirical Investigation
September 19, 2017 in Reports & Whitepapers Author: Steve Dahlke
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, is the second largest organized competitive wholesale electricity market in the U.S., serving 14 states with over 180 gigawatts of generation capacity, encompassing 6,427 generating units, and 65,800 miles of transmission lines. (FERC, 2017) Wholesale electricity prices in MISO have decreased over the past several years, as both natural gas prices have fallen and as large amounts of wind generation capacity have been added. Continue reading »
Competitive Wholesale Electricity Markets Benefit Wind Energy Production
January 23, 2017 in Energy Systems Author: Steve Dahlke
A new Great Plains Institute report concludes that the launch of the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) market in 2005 led to an increase of average capacity factors for wind turbines in the region by more than five percent. Continue reading »
New Transmission to Expand Midwestern Wind Power
October 26, 2016 in Energy Systems Authors: Dane McFarlane, Matt Prorok
Note: This blog post contains three interactive maps and may take a moment to load
A set of new electric transmission lines, developed with the help of the Great Plains Institute, is under construction to connect more Midwestern wind power to large cities in the east. The Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO), which operates the electric grid in the Midwest, has been moving forward with the Multi-Value Project (MVP) portfolio since 2011. Continue reading »
