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.

Nickel per single-use store bag approved by Minneapolis City Council
Council members on Friday approved a plan to require grocery stores and other retailers to charge customers 5 cents for every bag they take.
Trade dispute with China could slow transition to low-carbon power
China manufactures much of the world’s low-carbon energy technologies, so trade disputes with the country could slow the growth of solar and wind energy in the United States.
Report: Minnesota is improving pollinator protections, but more work to be done
Minnesota state agencies are taking steps to protect pollinators. But a report to the Environmental Quality Board indicates there’s more work to be done on improving pollinator habitat, reducing the use of pesticides harmful to insects and expanding public support for bees and butterflies.
Judge orders search of MPCA computers in PolyMet challenge
A judge has ordered a forensic search of computers used by three former top officials at the MPCA as part of an investigation into whether they sought to suppress concerns by federal regulators about pollution risks from the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine.
Land affected by Keystone pipeline leak bigger than thought
A North Dakota environmental scientist said the leak reported on Oct. 29 is now estimated by state regulators to have affected about 209,100 square feet of land near Edinburg. Regulators had said the leak affected about 22,500 square feet of land.
A Beautiful World: Roadless wilderness under attack
For two decades the roadless rule has protected millions of acres of pristine national forests from road construction, mining, and logging. The policy is now threatened by new proposed laws.
Study links Asian carp with Mississippi River fish drop
Sport fish have declined significantly in portions of the Upper Mississippi River infested with Asian carp, adding evidence to fears about the invader’s threat to native species, according to a new study.
Mayo Clinic goes on low-salt diet — for roads and sidewalks
Every day, thousands of patients come to Mayo Clinic in Rochester seeking medical care, so it’s no place for dangerously icy sidewalks or parking lots. Yet despite last winter being one of the snowiest on record, Mayo reduced its salt use by 60 percent from the previous winter.
Signs of trouble ahead for Lake Superior's historic lake herring fishery
The cisco is a fish in demand: Its meat graces Passover tables as gefilte fish, and its eggs are a delicacy in Scandinavia. Commercial fishing operations on Lake Superior’s North Shore depend on it. But there are signs that the cisco, also known as lake herring, may also be a fish in peril.