As President and CEO Rolf Nordstrom nears his retirement date at the end of this month, we wanted to share an important update on the process to select GPI’s next leader. The search continues to attract strong interest from highly qualified candidates, and GPI’s board of directors has determined that additional time is needed to identify the right leader to guide GPI through its next chapter of growth and impact. Continue reading »
In 2025, the Great Plains Institute conducted a nationwide survey of local planners and sustainability staff to understand their needs for advancing climate work. Respondents said the most useful addition to their toolkits would be real-world examples of efforts to advance climate goals.
To figure out where those examples were most needed, we compared the survey results with a scan of existing resources and found that data centers, autonomous vehicles, and energy affordability stood out as the topics with the greatest gaps. Continue reading »
Industrial processes currently account for roughly one-quarter of carbon emissions in the United States, with many experts recognizing electrification as an essential step for achieving meaningful decarbonization. Electrifying heating processes at industrial and manufacturing sites, particularly low- and medium‑temperature applications, can directly reduce these industrial emissions. Yet deployment remains stubbornly slow across much of the United States, largely due to a lack of economic viability. Continue reading »
As clean energy projects continue to expand across the United States, state governments are increasingly working on various aspects of such projects, from permitting to community engagement. Yet these officials have had limited opportunities for sharing what they’re learning and discussing strategies with their peers. A new initiative, the States Siting Officials Collaborative, brings together officials from over 20 states in a peer network to accelerate clean energy siting and permitting. Continue reading »
Statewide climate action plans are becoming a core part of planning, policy, and program implementation for many states across the US. As more states develop and periodically update these plans, climate leadership is evolving to include not only ambition for greenhouse gas reductions but also the ability to translate those ambitions into coordinated, durable action. This shift requires more than technical analysis or policy design. It requires processes that help diverse stakeholders navigate challenges, link evidence to decision-making, and align on practical paths forward. Continue reading »
Local governments across Iowa are facing a rapidly changing clean energy landscape. Projects are arriving faster than many communities can effectively manage, given their limited staff capacity, technical expertise, or regulatory tools. Local governments play a key role in grounding such projects in their community’s priorities. This post highlights a program that equips Iowa communities with the resources they need to plan for and benefit from clean energy projects. Continue reading »
Supporting local governments in advancing transportation electrification is crucial for GPI’s efforts to drive equitable, data-driven solutions that reduce emissions and offer real community benefits. Continue reading »
Across the United States, data centers are reshaping local landscapes. This is attracting economic investment and promising job growth, but also raising urgent questions about energy consumption, grid reliability, electricity affordability, water use, air quality, and community well-being.
Continue reading »
A new national atlas from GPI provides a comprehensive analysis of the suitability of areas across the United States to support natural gas-fired power generation with carbon capture and storage (NG + CCS), offering insights to help meet rising electricity demand while reducing emissions. Continue reading »
Local governments play a crucial role in advancing climate solutions, but knowing where to start or how to scale existing efforts can be challenging. Here at GPI, we are committed to supporting local action that leads to impactful outcomes at the state and national levels. Continue reading »
