Increasing demand for GPI’s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-oriented climate solutions has driven rapid organizational and programmatic growth. GPI’s footprint is national in scope (see map below), even as we retain our prairie-like roots in the midcontinent. GPI is powered by more than 50 dedicated professionals across multiple states and D.C., and by some of the nation’s most respected philanthropies and donors.

At this new inflection point, GPI’s Board of Directors is seeking to expand and diversify to better reflect the organization’s scope and potential for impact. We seek new board members who have the passion, life experience, and influence to help GPI add speed and scale to its already high-impact work.

The Great Plains Institute combines a unique consensus-building approach, expert knowledge, research and analysis, and local action to find and implement lasting energy solutions that bridge political, economic, geographic, and cultural divides.

We work all along the energy supply chain, from applied research and analysis that informs what is possible, to helping diverse leaders co-create sound policy, regulation, and action plans, to providing technical assistance to get clean energy deployed.

We help create the policy, regulatory, and market system conditions and social norms necessary to dramatically accelerate the historic technology adoption rate for clean energy. Our work helps make it politically and economically possible for the largest number of institutions, cities, and states to take the most aggressive action possible.

GPI recognizes that the impacts of climate change fall disproportionately on lower income people and communities of color. One of our strategic goals is to ensure that GPI’s staff, board, and programs reflect diversity, inclusion, equity, and environmental justice, and that our work involves the communities affected by our work. Progress thus far includes a board diversity strategy, equity policy statement and work plan, equity lens tool used in launching new work, a review of HR practices, organization-wide cultural competence training, and founding membership in a new chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy in our home state of Minnesota. We have much more to do!

Carbon Management. GPI leads regional and national efforts on carbon capture, storage, utilization, and removal. Our work has led to the first price on carbon at the federal level. We bring together government, industry, labor, NGOs and EJ interests to achieve the economic, jobs, health, and environmental benefits of carbon management technologies critical to reaching climate goals.

Communities. GPI helps large numbers of communities institutionalize and pursue their energy and climate goals, with the aim that equitable and inclusive action on clean energy, resilience, and climate mitigation becomes the norm for all Minnesota and Midwestern cities and communities.

Energy Systems. GPI works with states and a broad range of interests to decarbonize the electricity sector as fully as possible by midcentury (or sooner) through adoption of all cost-effective energy efficiency and transformative system change to energy markets and infrastructure, utility regulation, and by aligning financial incentives with this goal.

Renewable Energy. Now that renewable energy is competitive, we are tackling the remaining barriers to full-scale deployment. For example, siting wind and solar so that it delivers other community benefits, predictable and transparent interconnection to the grid, and equitable access, wealth creation, job creation and economic development in host communities.

Transportation & Fuels. Finally, GPI seeks to reduce GHG emissions in the transport sector up to 90 percent—while cutting the cost per mile—by electrifying transportation where practical, switching to renewable, low- or carbon-negative fuels where that is the better solution and enhancing mobility for all.

Over the next 2-3 years, we are seeking 6-9 new board members who would help transform our organization at a national scale and to meet our impact-driven growth strategy.

Expertise/professional qualities:

• Senior leadership experience
• Expertise in a topic related to energy transition other than electricity generation and transmission, e.g., transportation, buildings, industry, agriculture/forestry, carbon management, and/or communities.
• Venture capital/green tech investment, including entrepreneurship and new business models
• Background in strategy, consulting, government
• Other experience that could be beneficial includes HR, finance, law, or philanthropy.
• Willingness to help GPI secure the resources it needs to increase its impact (e.g., personal contributions and/or connecting GPI to your network, corporate and otherwise).

• Collaborative, personable and committed to active participation
• Attend all board meetings, currently a mix of virtual & in-person. Board meets quarterly in Sept., Dec., April & June. For those outside the Twin Cities, travel to the Twin Cities for at least two meetings.
• Serve on at least one board committee (can be by phone/video) and devote at least 10-15 hours/month to board-related service
• Bring a regional, national and/or global lens and breadth of experience.
• Represent the diversity of the stakeholders and population GPI serves.
• Make a personally meaningful annual financial gift and able and willing to leverage professional relationships to enhance GPI’s mission.

If you're interested in becoming a board member, please submit an application with a resume and bio.