GPI’s History
For more than 25 years, the Great Plains Institute’s leaders and experts have built relationships with governments, businesses, communities, and across diverse viewpoints to power transformative solutions that improve people’s lives.
1997
Laying the Foundation
In 1997, a small group of people had an idea. What if there was a place where people with different opinions about how to provide clean, secure energy for generations could come together and create common solutions? Through a grant from the Northwest Area Foundation, the Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development was born.
2000-2005
Powering the Plains
Powering the Plains, the Institute’s first major stakeholder process, brings together utilities, environmental groups, regulators, elected officials, farmers, and farm groups to develop the region’s first-ever consensus-based energy road map.
Minnesota passes groundbreaking law on hydrogen and fuel cells
Minnesota passes ground-breaking law fostering the development of zero-emission hydrogen and fuel cells as part of the state’s energy system, with specific provisions on deploying these technologies within state-owned facilities, vehicle fleets, and operations; and supporting the development of multi-fuel refueling stations to diversify the state’s transportation fuel supply. GPI was instrumental in developing the law and helping secure its passage.
Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) is born
Based on recommendations from its “Powering the Plains” stakeholders, GPI worked with the Izaak Walton League and others to develop a new independent, third-party system to track the buying and selling of renewable energy credits (RECs). These RECs represent a specific amount of renewable energy production. M-RETS has improved the market for renewable energy by providing a fair, transparent, and credible vehicle for tracking RECs.
First-ever energy transition road map published
Publication of Powering the Plains Energy Transition Roadmap, the region’s first-ever consensus-based 50-year energy strategy. This roadmap forms the basis for energy and climate agreements by Midwestern governors and the premier of Manitoba and provides the foundation for MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) to begin planning the transmission system that would be necessary to meet state clean energy goals.
GreenStep Cities is Launched
GPI plays a critical role in developing this statewide program, which provides 28 best practices and 172 discrete actions that cities can implement to achieve their efficiency and sustainability goals. GPI continues to work as a partner in the GreenStep Cities program, which is a “proven tool for scaling clean energy and climate action in cities.”
2006-2010
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Midwestern leaders back energy and climate platform and recommendations
Midwestern governors and the premier of Manitoba hold a major Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) summit to sign and adopt ambitious, bipartisan energy and climate agreements. GPI staffs working groups of public and private sector stakeholders to develop these agreements. Over the next two years, deliberation among representatives from industry, environmental groups, government, and others continues, culminating in an MGA road map with recommendations for implementation.
2011-2015
Unlocking the Midwest’s Clean Energy Potential
Midwestern Independent System Operator (MISO) approves a package of 17 transmission lines that would help the region achieve its energy goals and unlock the Midwest’s clean energy potential. GPI played a pivotal, behind-the-scenes role in this milestone, ensuring that MISO’s transmission plans accounted for the region’s renewable energy goals, helping states identify their best renewable energy zones, and supporting approval of a fair and equitable formula for sharing the costs of these lines among states.
Organizational growth to support more local clean energy
GPI acquires the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team, which is the Twin Cities metro regional team of the Clean Energy Resource Teams, a statewide partnership in Minnesota supporting community-based clean energy projects. This acquisition adds to GPI’s capacity to help communities of all sizes achieve their clean energy goals.
Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota strengthens state leadership
The GPI-convened Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota lays the groundwork for and secures the passage of legislation that positions Minnesota as the best place to develop advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biomass thermal projects.
Delegation to Germany
GPI is the only nonprofit organization invited to join a high-level US legislative delegation to Germany to learn about the country’s aggressive plan for transitioning to 80 percent renewable energy by 2050. This trip and two more in 2012 and 2013 inspired the Minnesota Energy Future study described below under “2013.”
Big Recognition for Communities Work
GreenStep Cities wins two Environmental Initiative Awards: Sustainable Communities Project of the Year and Partnership of the Year.
The e21 Initiative
GPI’s nation-leading “e21” Initiative releases consensus recommendations to fundamentally reform Minnesota’s regulatory framework for utility regulation in ways that will benefit consumers, businesses, the economy, and the environment.
2016-2020
Leading the nation in getting communities solar ready via SolSmart
In GPI’s role as a partner in the highly successful SolSmart program, we help more communities become certified as solar ready than any other organization in the nation
Landmark Federal Legislation Expands Tax Credit for Reducing Carbon Emissions
The Carbon Capture Coalition, convened by GPI, built support at the federal and state levels for several years to expand and reform 45Q, a performance-based tax credit for carbon capture and storage projects that represents the first time Congress placed a value on reducing carbon emissions in the US. The legislation passed with bipartisan support and laid the foundation for future US carbon management policy.
GPI releases influential policy and research publications and resources
This period marks a significant growth of our role in research and policy development. Examples include releasing a solar and stormwater best practices guide, releasing consensus principles for a Midwestern clean fuels policy, publishing marketing opportunities for Minnesota’s forest products, and completing the first comprehensive study on food waste digestion pathways in Minnesota.
Groundbreaking Climate Action Plan in Minnesota
In a joint effort with LHB and Orange Environmental, the Great Plains Institute develops a climate action plan for the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. As part of this effort, new energy planning tools are developed, enabling local governments in Minnesota and elsewhere to target climate action. In adopting this plan, the city becomes a leading example of a community moving from setting ambitious energy and carbon emission goals to laying out a road map for implementation.
Coalitions expand GPI’s expertise and national reach
Growing demand for GPI’s unique blend of energy and stakeholder engagement expertise and consensus-oriented climate solutions leads to expanding our coalition and partnership efforts across the nation. This includes launching the Industrial Innovation Initiative in partnership with the World Resources Institute, taking over management of the Sustainable States Network to advance community-level policies at scale, launching the Minnesota Cities Climate Coalition of local governments, and convening the most diverse carbon management and carbon removal coalition in the nation, the Carbon Capture Coalition.
2021–present day
Blueprints to decarbonize industry by 2050
In 2021, our Industrial Innovation Initiative (I3) issues the first-ever federal and state policy blueprint for decarbonizing industry by 2050, which lays the foundation for significant changes in federal law. Just three years later, I3 releases the 2024 Federal Policy Blueprint, which builds on our previous policy recommendations.
Future Fuels Coalition launches to decarbonize transportation
GPI launches the Future Fuels Coalition in Minnesota, which supports the first introduction of state legislation establishing a clean fuel standard in a Midwestern state.
Drive Electric Minnesota secures passage of major electric vehicle legislation
GPI-facilitated Drive Electric Minnesota successfully advocates for sweeping electric vehicle legislation, including purchase incentives for EVs and investments in EV charging infrastructure.
Helping communities through Environmental Justice TCTACs
GPI becomes part of a new national network of Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs), helping communities scope clean energy and climate projects, provide templates and advice on funding proposals, and assist with grant writing and submission as needed, along with any other technical assistance related to identifying energy and decarbonization needs in communities and successfully applying for federal grants to address them.
Supporting community transportation electrification goals nationwide
GPI pioneers electric vehicle (EV) readiness certification programs, EV-Ready Communities and EV Smart, building on years of working with cities to achieve their clean energy and climate goals. This work now serves as the foundation for Charging Smart, a national designation program that prepares and recognizes communities for EV readiness.
Landmark bipartisan law spurs cleaner heating options
Supported by the GPI-led Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota and informed by a stakeholder group co-led by GPI on Decarbonizing Minnesota’s Natural Gas End Uses, the Natural Gas Innovation Act passes in June 2021. The act provides a pathway for investor-owned utilities to use more renewable energy resources and innovative technologies.
States Deployment Initiative helps most states develop climate action plans
GPI helps launch the nationwide States Deployment Initiative to help all but eight US states (plus DC and Puerto Rico) develop and implement climate plans. The initiative serves as a platform to scale GPI’s efforts to leverage the Environmental Protection Agency’s $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, ensuring that state and metropolitan climate plans are well-coordinated. The initiative is part of the Conveners Network, which comprises five organizations, including GPI.
Helping pass the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act
In 2021, GPI played a central role in helping Illinois craft and pass the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which some have described as the most equitable climate law in the country
Among its sweeping provisions, the new law:
- Calls for coal retirements by 2030, gas by 2045
- Doubles commitment to building new renewable energy
- Expands commitments to energy efficiency
- Provides for build out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric vehicle rebates
- Provides coal-to-solar/storage financing
- Support for the existing, zero-carbon nuclear fleet
- And ensures strong labor standards