Transferring knowledge from oil and gas and unlocking a new era of growth for renewable energy

whitePaper | January 7, 2020

A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Working across the US, we combine a unique consensus-building approach, expert knowledge, research and analysis, and local action to find and implement lasting solutions. Our work strengthens communities and provides greater economic opportunity through creation of higher paying jobs, expansion of the nation’s industrial base, and greater domestic energy independence while eliminating carbon emissions.

whitePaper | March 31, 2023

The world is in the midst of an infrastructure and buildings boom. In every part of the globe, and especially so in the developing world, urban commercial centres and residential housing are expanding as economies grow.

whitePaper | April 1, 2022

The clean energy transition means shifting electricity production away from sources that release significant greenhouse gases, such as fossil fuels, to those that release minimal greenhouse gases. Nuclear power, hydro, wind and solar are the primary clean energy sources. Around two-thirds of the world’s electricity still comes from burning fossil fuels. In order to progress toward climate goals, particularly those outlined in the Paris Agreement, at least 80% of energy production will need to shift to low-carbon sources.

whitePaper | December 18, 2019

The world is facing unprecedented environmental challenges characterized by climate change, unsustainable resource use, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and waste production. These challenges are further exacerbated by population growth and urbanization. There is a growing global recognition of the urgency of these problems, and the mounting demand for solutions has created an economic opportunity for the countries and companies that are able and willing to develop them.

whitePaper | May 11, 2022

The Energy Transition Index (ETI) has benchmarked the progress of countries’ energy transition for a decade on the three dimensions of the energy triangle – economic development and growth, energy security and access, and environmental sustainability – and on the enabling environment for transition. In view of the current volatile macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, however, a trend analysis from historical energy data can currently provide only limited insights. Hence, instead of the annual country energy transition benchmarking report, this special 2022 edition builds on the ETI trends observed in recent years to provide a perspective on the current challenges affecting the transition, and highlights priorities to supercharge it.

whitePaper | January 16, 2023

With the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) in August 2022, the United States signaled its commitment to reducing emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The IRA’s reach extends across industries and, in particular, across energy technologies. Its primary achievement in the energy and climate space is the unprecedented provision of public incentives for clean energy deployment and manufacturing capacity. These incentives provide the necessary long-term certainty required by wind industry stakeholders to make large capital investments in the U.S. market, which will in turn create jobs and economic opportunities for communities across the country.