Our goal is to decarbonize the transportation system through electrification, zero- or negative-carbon fuel deployment, and promotion of alternatives to vehicle trips.
Geography
State–level and regional work in many states, primarily in the Midwest.
Our three-year goals
- Pass a clean transportation standard at the federal level and in at least five states, which will increase commercial development and incremental carbon reductions in existing and emerging low-carbon fuels, including biofuels, electricity, hydrogen, and others.
- Dramatically increase electric vehicle sales, aiming to make electric vehicles at least 30 percent of sales by 2030 in light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. The most critical elements of this strategy include incentives and regulations, infrastructure investment, utility programs and policies, and education and outreach.
- Support deployment at scale of zero- and negative-carbon fuels necessary to achieve transportation decarbonization in all sectors. This includes building out the infrastructure necessary to deploy these fuels at scale.
- Reduce the need for driving by putting in place the framework required to shift to alternative modes of transportation like mass transit, electric bikes and scooters, walking, and others.
- Ensure that communities disproportionately harmed by the transportation system can share in the benefits of transportation decarbonization. Ensure an inclusive approach to policy development.
- Increase carbon sequestration through agricultural and forested lands and products and put in place the economic incentives needed to achieve this.
Our Transportation & Fuels Experts
Have questions? Get in touch with one of our transportation and fuels experts.
Contact us
Brendan Jordan
Vice President, Transportation and Fuels
Carolyn Berninger
Public Policy Manager, Transportation and Fuels
Mariem Zaghdoudi
Bioeconomy Program Manager, Transportation and Fuels
Gabrielle Olson
GREET Program Specialist, Transportation and Fuels
Emmy Curtiss
Research Analyst, Transportation and Fuels
Hannah Haas
Natural and Working Lands Specialist, Transportation and Fuels
Katelyn Bocklund
Senior Program Manager, Transportation and Fuels
Aaron Westling
Shared Mobility Program Manager, Transportation and Fuels
M. Moaz Uddin
Senior Electric Vehicle Policy Specialist, Transportation and Fuels
Mathew Creasy
Natural and Working Lands Specialist
Samantha Farmer
Meeting & Administrative Specialist, Transportation and Fuels
Alejandro Nakpil
Electric Mobility Program Associate, Transportation and Fuels
Reports & Related Materials
Report: Capturing and Utilizing CO2 from Ethanol: Adding Economic Value and Jobs to Rural Economies and Communities While Reducing Emissions
Read report
Our Outreach
Making low- and zero-emissions transportation and fuels a reality
Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota
Facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota brings everyone involved in the bioeconomy together to collaborate and grow the industry, along the entire value chain from research and development to production and use. The coalition aims to position Minnesota as a global leader in the Bioeconomy by working together on a shared strategy.
Clean Fuel States Collaborative
The Clean Fuels States Collaborative is an initiative convened by the Great Plains Institute, Center for the New Energy Economy, and Harvard Environmental Energy and Law Program, to understand and explore the potential for clean fuel standards amongst state officials. The collaborative provides educational briefings for state staff, assistance with analysis and materials development, online and in-person multi-state meetings to share knowledge and discuss state-level progress, and ongoing legal and technical support for states throughout the implementation process.
Drive Electric Minnesota
Facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, Drive Electric Minnesota is a partnership of Minnesota’s electric vehicle (EV) champions, dedicated to encouraging the deployment of EVs and the establishment of EV charging infrastructure through public-private partnerships, financial incentives, education, technical support, and public policy. We believe EVs are an important component of energy efficiency and cleaner transportation in Minnesota that is both financially and environmentally sustainable. Advancing EV deployment will have many benefits to Minnesotans, including reduced transportation costs, cleaner air, and energy independence.
Future Fuels Coalition
The Future Fuels Coalition, facilitated by the Great Plains Institute, is a broad coalition of stakeholders working together to implement the Clean Transportation Standard Act, which is a clean fuels policy tailored to Minnesota. Coalition members include producers and marketers, electric utilities, environmental nonprofits, auto manufacturers, and agriculture and industry groups.
Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative
Since 2017, GPI’s Transportation and Fuels team has been working with stakeholders across the Midwest (the Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy Initiative) to design and implement clean fuels policies in the region. A clean fuels policy is a fuel-neutral program that achieves emission reductions in the transportation sector by supporting the deployment of lower carbon fuels (including electricity, biofuels, hydrogen, and emerging technologies).