Environmental News

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

Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

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DNR and residents sue to block controversial resort development outside Ely
State environmental regulators and a group of northeastern Minnesota residents have filed separate lawsuits to block a proposed $45 million resort development near Ely and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Should elephants have the same rights as people? A Colorado court may decide
Missy, Kimba, Lucky, LouLou and Jambo have lived in Colorado Springs for decades in the elephant exhibit at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Now an animals rights group is trying to get them released from what they say is essentially the equivalent of a prison for such highly intelligent and social animals known to roam for miles a day in the wild.
Renew it or lose it: Lawmaker asks voters not to skip ballot question on lottery amendment
This fall, Minnesotans will vote on whether to renew a proposal earmarking some money from the state lottery to fund environmental programs, including parks projects, conservation and clean water efforts.
Minneapolis, St. Paul birders drop 'Audubon' from chapter names
The St. Paul and Minneapolis Audubon chapters have dropped the contentious naturalist’s namesake from their titles, rebranding their organizations as the St. Paul Bird Alliance and Land of Lakes Bird Alliance, respectively.
Midwest chicken farmers struggle to feed flocks after sudden closure of processor
Dozens of farmers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are scrambling to feed their flocks after a struggling organic broiler chicken producer abruptly closed a year after getting a $39 million federal loan. Pure Prairie Poultry shuttered its Charles City, Iowa, processing plant after filing for bankruptcy in September.
Minneapolis City Council moves forward on carbon fee in override of mayoral veto
The Minneapolis City Council voted Thursday to move ahead with establishing a fee for the city’s biggest carbon dioxide emitters, overriding Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto. But councilmembers agreed to move the fee date back several months to give the city time to address concerns with the policy.
PUC orders Xcel Energy to refund customers for 2011 Sherco outage costs
A major mechanical failure at the Sherco coal-fired power plant caused a fire and extensive damage in 2011. An administrative law judge recently found that Xcel’s failure to prudently operate and maintain Unit 3 contributed to the accident.