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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Climate Cast

Listen to Climate Cast, the MPR News podcast all about our changing climate and its impact in Minnesota and worldwide.

Itasca County looks toward a coal-free economy
Minnesota’s carbon-free electricity goal will have significant impacts on parts of the state where coal is a major player in the economy. Itasca County Commissioner John Johnson spoke to Paul Huttner about how his corner of northern Minnesota is planning for that transition.
Delays to energy assistance program predicted to persist after federal shutdown ends
The Minnesota Department of Commerce administers the energy assistance program for the state. The federal shutdown has meant a delay in that assistance. Even when the shutdown ends, the funds will take weeks to get into the hands of those who need it, according to the department.
As demand for energy surges in Minnesota, interest in battery storage booms
Batteries can store electricity from solar and wind when it’s plentiful and cheap to produce, and release it when it’s in short supply. There's a growing consensus that batteries are critical to making the switch to decarbonized electricity.
Want healthy trees? Pay attention to microclimates
Tyler Hasseltine is an arborist who works with trees all year long. He talked to Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about how even small landscaping decisions can have a big impact on tree health.
New cookbook offers tips for sustainable seafood choices and recipes
How can we choose and prepare seafood that’s delicious and climate sustainable? “The Blue Food Cookbook: Delicious Seafood Recipes for a Sustainable Future” has some ideas.
Lawsuit alleges Hermantown kept public in dark over data center proposal
The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and a grassroots group called "Stop the Hermantown Data Center" filed the lawsuit. It alleges the city's review didn't describe the proposal as a data center, and failed to provide details about the project's potential environmental impacts.