Great Plains Institute

What Great Plains Institute does

Great Plains Institute (GPI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 1997/1998, that convenes government, industry, labor, and nonprofit stakeholders to develop nonpartisan, consensus-driven energy and decarbonization solutions. The organization operates across five core program areas: Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management, Communities, Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, and Transportation & Fuels, with active programmatic presence in at least Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, and Washington.

GPI's deliverables include the interactive Road Map to Decarbonization tool, the Transportation Electrification Playbooks (now scaled nationally with GM funding), the 'Lessons Along the Road to Transmission Deployment' study (110+ interviews across 11 states), the Atlas of Natural Gas Power with CCS, the Distributed Green Ammonia Report, and technical assistance programs such as R-STEP in Iowa and GreenStep Cities in Minnesota. Its underlying methodology combines policy research, technical assistance, stakeholder convening, and peer network facilitation rather than software or proprietary technology platforms, and the organization does not offer commercial APIs or software products.

GPI's revenue model is grant and donation-based, supported by federal agencies (EPA, DOE), corporate partners (General Motors), and likely foundation funders, with no disclosed commercial pricing or fee-for-service structure. Distribution is field-based and relationship-driven: no-cost technical assistance, workshops, site visits, peer learning coalitions (Minnesota Cities Climate Coalition, Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition, Community Energy Network, Hydrogen Economy Collaborative), and direct engagement with local and state government officials.

Name

Great Plains Institute

Legal name

Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development

Website

https://betterenergy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Great Plains Institute is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes government, industry, labor, and community stakeholders to develop consensus-driven decarbonization, renewable energy, and transmission policy solutions across multiple US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Policy and Decarbonization Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Conservation Programs (924120)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory (EUAMANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Offset Projects (Grid/Off-grid, Cookstoves, Buildings/Industry) (EUABABAN), Interconnection, Permitting & Grid Services for DERs (EUAMAJAH)

Keywords

• Energy policy research
• Decarbonization consulting
• Renewable energy programs
• Carbon management solutions
• Climate technical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Great Plains Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers energy transition and decarbonization programs through consensus-building research, technical assistance, peer networks, policy analysis, and educational publications for governments, communities, industry, and labor stakeholders. Its offerings include interactive road maps (e.g., Road Map to Decarbonization), research reports (Atlas of Natural Gas + CCS, transmission deployment study, distributed green ammonia report), implementation playbooks (Transportation Electrification Playbooks), and on-the-ground technical assistance programs such as R-STEP for clean energy siting in Iowa.

Product overview

The Great Plains Institute is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) focused on energy transition and decarbonization, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of consensus-driven programs, research reports, technical assistance services, and interactive tools designed to help communities, policymakers, and industry stakeholders navigate the energy transition. The core portfolio includes five major work areas: (1) Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management, (2) Communities, (3) Energy Systems, (4) Renewable Energy, and (5) Transportation & Fuels. Supporting these programs are publications such as the Road Map to Decarbonization (interactive roadmap for electricity, transportation, buildings, and industry), Transportation Electrification Playbooks (four guides for local governments), the Transmission Deployment Report (Lessons Along the Road), the Natural Gas + CCS Atlas (national siting suitability analysis), the Distributed Green Ammonia Report, and the Spark Gap Analysis for industrial electrification. Technical assistance is delivered through programs like R-STEP in Iowa and Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition support. The organization does not offer a commercial software product, API, or cloud-based platform—the offerings are advisory services, published research, and consensus-building programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Better Energy Community: The Better Energy Community is the organization's collective brand for its network of stakeholders, partners, and community engagement initiatives.
• Road Map

Products and services

• Road Map to Decarbonization An interactive, consensus-built road map platform that shows how a low-carbon future is achievable using existing technologies. Currently covers electricity and transportation with planned chapters on decarbonizing buildings and industry. Built for policymakers, industry, communities, and other stakeholders.
• Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management Program A GPI program area led by a Vice President that convenes government, industry, labor, and nonprofit organizations to advance carbon capture, removal, transport, use, and storage and capture related economic and jobs benefits. For utility, industrial, and policy stakeholders.
• Communities Program A core GPI program that assists cities and communities with technical assistance, peer networks, and resources to drive local clean energy change. For municipalities and community-based organizations.
• Energy Systems Program A core GPI program that works at multiple scales to enable a net-zero greenhouse gas energy system, including decarbonization of natural gas and hydrogen end uses and integration with the electric system. For utilities, regulators, and policy stakeholders.
• Renewable Energy Program A core GPI program addressing the dramatic increase in renewable generation capacity required for a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035, resolving deployment, siting, and integration challenges. For utilities, developers, and communities.
• Transportation & Fuels Program A core GPI program that combines renewable fuels and chemicals with transportation electrification to reduce emissions by 50–90% while reducing cost per mile. For state and local governments, utilities, and industry.
• Transportation Electrification Playbooks A set of four implementation playbooks guiding local governments on supporting EV adoption and expanding public charging infrastructure: Planning for EVs, Utility Engagement, Municipal Fleet Electrification, and Expanding Charging Infrastructure. For municipal staff and local policymakers.
• Spark Gap Analysis An analytic report examining the cost difference between producing heat with electricity versus natural gas at industrial sites, and how rate design reform can narrow this gap. For utilities, industrial customers, and policy makers.
• Lessons Along the Road to Transmission Deployment A comprehensive research report presenting the most in-depth analysis to date of local perspectives on high-voltage transmission, based on 110+ in-person interviews across 11 states and 11 transmission projects. For utilities, developers, regulators, and communities.
• Atlas of Natural Gas Power with Carbon Capture and Storage A national atlas providing comprehensive geospatial analysis of suitability areas across the United States for natural gas-fired power with carbon capture and storage (NG+CCS). Designed as an early-stage screening tool for policy makers, developers, and system planners.
• Distributed Green Ammonia Report A research report prepared for the Hydrogen Economy Collaborative highlighting regional economic benefits of distributed green ammonia (DGA) production, showcasing demonstration projects in Iowa and Manitoba. For agricultural, industrial, and clean hydrogen stakeholders.
• R-STEP (Reliable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning) A program in Iowa providing local communities with technical knowledge and decision-making support for large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting. Led by Iowa State University Extension & Outreach with GPI as a program partner. For Iowa communities and local officials.
• Gas Utility Integrated Resource Planning Analysis An analysis of how states such as Colorado and Washington are adapting legacy gas system cost recovery practices for the clean energy transition, including trust fund requirements and forward-looking depreciation studies. For utility regulators, state agencies, and gas utilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% of nearly 140 million bikeshare trips in North America in 2024 were made on e-bikes
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• GreenStep CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA program of GPI that engages Minnesota cities in sustainability best practices. The program provides workshops, resources, and a peer network for cities to share best practices on community solar and other energy topics.
• Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership working to connect communities and individuals with clean energy resources and technical assistance. GPI participates in outreach and educational initiatives alongside CERTs.
• Carbon Capture CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) policy and deployment. GPI serves as a key convener and technical resource within this coalition.
• e21 InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinnesota-based initiative focused on modernizing the state's electric utility regulatory framework. GPI participates as a key stakeholder in this collaborative effort.
• BioEconomy Coalition of MinnesotamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition focused on developing the bioeconomy in Minnesota, including biofuels and biochemicals. GPI collaborates on renewable energy and transportation fuel initiatives.
• Drive Electric MinnesotamoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectric vehicle initiative that GPI supports as part of its transportation electrification work, helping accelerate EV adoption across Minnesota.
• Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition (WLGCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition that GPI supported through EPA funding to develop guidance and playbooks for Wisconsin local governments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including transportation electrification and grid decarbonization strategies.
• Minnesota Cities Climate CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPI-facilitated network that engages local elected officials on climate and energy policy in Minnesota, providing peer learning and advocacy support.
• Community Energy NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPI-facilitated space for local government staff to collaborate and participate in state legislative and regulatory processes related to energy policy.
• Sustainable States NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network that GPI participates in alongside Charging Smart and SolSmart programs to identify proven, scalable strategies for state and local climate action.
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPI serves as lead partner in the Charging Smart program, part of IREC's Energy Ready suite of programs, which provides technical assistance to accelerate EV deployment across US governments.
• Iowa State University Extension & OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution for the R-STEP program, working with GPI as a program partner to provide Iowa communities with technical knowledge and decision-making support for large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting.
• Hydrogen Economy CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA project of GPI that convenes stakeholders to support development of a regional clean hydrogen economy through peer learning, information sharing, and policy recommendations. GPI prepared the distributed green ammonia report for this collaborative.
• TalusAgmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural technology subsidiary of Talus Renewables, collaborating with Landus cooperative on distributed green ammonia production demonstration project in Boone, Iowa that GPI highlights as a case study.
• Landus CooperativemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural cooperative headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, partnering with TalusAg on distributed green ammonia production demonstration that showcases modular systems for sustainable agriculture.
• Hunterston ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExpertise from Jamie Scripps of Hunterston Consulting provided key insights guiding GPI's analysis of the spark gap and its effects on industrial electrification.
• American Clean PowermoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPI's atlas on natural gas with CCS references American Clean Power's study showing US electricity demand projected to grow 35-50% by 2040.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RMI (Rockspring Mountain Institute): RMI is a closely comparable energy transition nonprofit that conducts research, convenes stakeholders, and builds market-credible solutions across electricity, mobility, buildings, and industry. Like GPI, RMI emphasizes consensus-driven, technically rigorous work bridging multiple stakeholder groups.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): CESA is a nonprofit coalition of state energy agencies that coordinates program work and convenes stakeholders on clean energy deployment. It is highly comparable to GPI's state-facing program model and shares overlap in state energy policy convening and program design.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): C2ES is a bipartisan nonprofit focused on climate and energy policy research and convening. It is comparable to GPI in its emphasis on pragmatic, cross-stakeholder climate solutions and its work with state and federal policymakers on energy transition strategy.
• Energy Foundation: Energy Foundation is a philanthropic partnership that funds and coordinates clean energy advocacy across multiple states. It is comparable to GPI through its state-level program funding model and convening approach to advancing clean energy policy.
• Clean Air Task Force (CATF): CATF is a nonprofit focused on deploying clean energy and carbon management technologies through technical analysis and policy advocacy. It is highly comparable to GPI's Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management program and CCS deployment work.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO): NASEO represents state energy officials and convenes across federal-state clean energy programs. It is comparable to GPI as a peer convener for state-level energy policy, with a broader membership mandate and longer institutional history.
• Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Energy Program: BPC's energy program conducts research and convenes stakeholders across political lines on energy and climate policy. It overlaps with GPI's consensus-building approach at a national and federal-policy scale.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): NREL is a federally funded research lab providing technical analysis and modeling for renewable energy deployment, transmission, and decarbonization. While federally funded rather than nonprofit, it produces research deliverables directly comparable to GPI's transmission siting and CCS atlas work.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): WRI is a global research organization that publishes widely cited analysis on climate, energy, and sustainability. It is comparable to GPI in its research-and-convening model, with a much larger global footprint and broader topic scope.

Emerging players

• GridLab: GridLab is a nonprofit providing technical and policy expertise to support a clean, modern electric grid. It is comparable to GPI's Energy Systems and transmission work, with a narrower focus on grid planning and wholesale market design.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GreatPlainsInst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GreatPlainsInstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/GreatPlainsInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-plains-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Plains Institute