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.

The challenge, and opportunity, of 'getting to green' in Minnesota
While many people are in favor of moving towards a so-called green economy through reducing our dependence on climate change causing fossil fuels, the realities of making that move are complex. Margaret Cherne-Hendrick who works for Fresh Energy, a St. Paul-based clean energy nonprofit, says the transition offers challenges and opportunities.
Southern Minnesota city lifts boil water advisory
The city of Eagle Lake, Minn. — just east of Mankato — asked residents and businesses earlier this week to boil water from the municipal water system after a power outage led to a drop in water pressure.
Minnesota’s ambitious EV dreams still need a charge
Minnesota’s clean energy push includes an ambitious goal to have electric vehicles be 20 percent of all light-duty vehicles on the road by 2030. However, getting there means building thousands of electric vehicle charging stations across the state.
Listening to the birds and the bees to make solar farms more biofriendly
As the U.S. makes the transition towards greener energy production, one thorny issue is the millions of acres needed for solar farms. This will involve farm fields and other lands. At three sites in Minnesota, research is underway to find ways of serving both the needs of energy and nature.
Growing power line needs generate new friction in Minnesota’s clean energy shift
Moving solar and wind energy from where it’s produced to where it’s needed means a major buildout of new transmission lines, but the projects often face pushback from landowners concerned about aesthetics, health and the environment.
How could Minnesota become carbon-free? New MPR News series dives in
On Tuesday mornings, our reporters will be exploring the opportunities — but also the challenges — the state faces as it moves away from fossil fuels and toward more climate-friendly energy sources.