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.

Submit a question or story for Getting to Green here.

Climate Cast

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

Bill requiring carbon-free electricity in Minnesota by 2040 passes first committee
The bill drew support from clean energy advocates and labor unions hopeful it would reduce Minnesota’s reliance on fossil fuels to generate power and create clean energy jobs. But some rural electric cooperatives testified that it could be difficult to meet the mandate while maintaining affordable, reliable power.
Study shows heavy stones may give big leaps in water — plus real-world implications
Researchers have studied the physics behind heavy stones skipping across the surface of water. They say these findings could be applied to real-world problems like de-icing airplanes.
What a hoot! Houston, Minn., is a national hot spot for studying owls
Host Cathy Wurzer talked with Karla Bloem, executive director of the International Owl Center in Houston, Minn., where staff members teach visitors how to identify owls during small-group “owl prowls.”
Polar bear kills woman, boy in remote Alaska village
A polar bear entered the village of Wales in the state’s far northwest and chased multiple people before being fatally shot by a local resident, according to the Alaska State Troopers.
Study: Freshwater fish contain concerning levels of ‘forever chemical’
The researchers with the nonprofit Environmental Working Group calculated that eating one fish a year was equal to ingesting water with PFOS at 48 parts per trillion for a month, much higher than what the Minnesota Department of Health considers a safe level for drinking water.
A kid's guide to climate change (plus a printable comic)
Learning about climate change? Here's a comic for kids about what it is and how it's affecting the planet — as explained by kids who are experiencing it. And find out how to print this comic at home!
2022 was fifth or sixth warmest on record as Earth heats up
Government science teams say that 2022 didn't quite set a record for heat, but it was in the top five or six warmest on record depending on who's doing the measuring.