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.

3M may be nearing deal to settle lawsuits over 'forever chemicals'
A federal judge has granted a motion to delay the start of a trial in which a Florida city is seeking damages from 3M over the use of firefighting foam containing PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals.” The two sides reportedly are close to reaching a settlement.
Xcel Energy will ask state regulators to reconsider electric rate hike
Xcel says it will reevaluate its investments in the clean energy transition and is withdrawing a proposal to build a network of more than 700 electric vehicle charging stations.
Dams are an often overlooked source of greenhouse gas emissions
It turns out dams emit greenhouse gas — a lot of it. Just how much do they emit and why are some rivers better off left to flow naturally? Steven Hawley, author of “Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World,” discusses what a world without dams could bring.
St. Paul's Como Zoo has a too-cute new snow leopard cub
A new furball arrived at St. Paul’s Como Zoo in recent weeks: a cub born to snow leopards Alya and Moutig. It’s a second cub for the pair, who are part of national effort to preserve and bolster the vulnerable, iconic species.
Train carrying hazardous material derails in NW Minnesota; no injuries or evacuations reported
Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway said some of the cars that derailed near Lancaster, Minn., were carrying hazardous materials, but said “the initial assessment by first responders on the scene is that there are no leaks from the rail cars.”