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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.

As EPA steps back, states face wave of requests for environmental leniency

As EPA steps back, states face wave of requests for environmental leniency

The EPA does not require companies to notify federal regulators if the pandemic interferes with pollution monitoring or reporting. That leaves states alone on the front lines of pollution control.
by Rebecca Hersher

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State officials agree to give Line 3 permits additional scrutiny

State officials agree to give Line 3 permits additional scrutiny

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced that a “contested case hearing” on a draft water quality permit for Line 3 will be held later this summer. The decision further delays the contentious project by at least three months.
by Dan Kraker

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Climate change and deforestation mean Earth's trees are younger and shorter

Climate change and deforestation mean Earth's trees are younger and shorter

A new study finds rising temperatures and climate-driven disasters are helping transform the very makeup of the world's forests. This has major implications for biodiversity and more warming.
by Nathan Rott

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Our pandemic habits cut carbon emissions, but it's not clear they'll last

Our pandemic habits cut carbon emissions, but it's not clear they'll last

Energy demand plummeted because of the pandemic shutdown. A big question is whether new habits like telecommuting and flying less will endure, and mean lower oil consumption in the future.
by Jeff Brady

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'Catastrophic' dam failures in Michigan force thousands to evacuate

'Catastrophic' dam failures in Michigan force thousands to evacuate

The National Weather Service called the event "extremely dangerous" and said it was caused by "catastrophic failures at the Edenville and Sanford dams," located roughly 140 miles north of Detroit.
by Brakkton Booker

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Audio postcard: Hunting for wild orchids in the Twin Cities metro

Audio postcard: Hunting for wild orchids in the Twin Cities metro

This week, authors Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root went hunting for wild orchids — specifically, a beautiful white flower called the showy orchid. They found them in abundance at French Regional Park in Plymouth.

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