Environmental News

MPR News is your source for environment news from Minnesota and across the country.

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

Getting to Green is an MPR News series that shares stories about Minnesota’s clean energy transition, including what needs to be done to get there.

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Mountain lion spotted in Duluth has been wandering across Minnesota for 3 months
DNR officials say they’ve been tracking the mountain lion’s journey across the state. It is originally from Nebraska, but was first spotted in Fergus Falls, Minn. in September.
Batteries need manganese but talk of mining the mineral roils northern Minnesota’s lake country
There’s a renewed effort in northern Minnesota’s Brainerd Lakes area to develop an underground mine for manganese, which is coveted to make batteries. Many local residents are uneasy.
Lights, camera, talons: EagleCam is back online with new tech
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ EagleCam is back for a second season at its new location, with new tech to improve video quality and a strategy to cover the possibility of two different nest locations.
More cities are seeing PFAS pollution in drinking water. Here's what Louisville found
Workers at the drinking water plant in Louisville, Ky. saw a sudden spike in the level of a 'forever chemical.' They traced it up the Ohio River to a factory embroiled in a pollution lawsuit. 
‘Sticky’ pine needles could provide clues about forever chemicals in Minnesota’s air
Scientists want to better understand how PFAS move through the environment. It turns out that coniferous needles make surprisingly good natural air monitors.