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.

October 6, 2019 10:37 AM

It's Fat Bear Week in Alaska's Katmai National Park - time to fill out your bracket

Bears preparing for hibernation need to eat as much as they can for the winter. In Alaska, it's turned into an ursine March Madness with bears going head to head to see who is the fattest.

by Tom Goldman

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October 5, 2019 8:55 AM

Photos: Fall colors on Minnesota's North Shore

Fall colors are at or near their peak this weekend across much of northern Minnesota, including the North Shore — bringing a wave of red, orange and yellow to the rocky ridges overlooking Lake Superior.

by Andrew Krueger

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October 5, 2019 5:00 AM

'Let the Water Speak': Sharing stories, building relationships in the Folwell neighborhood

The Folwell neighborhood is separated from the Mississippi River by an interstate highway and a sprawling industrial site. On the evening of Aug. 22, an event was held in “The Story Garden,” dedicated to sharing stories and raising consciousness of the river among the people who live near its banks.

by Melissa Townsend

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October 4, 2019 12:38 PM

Researchers are freezing their ship into Arctic ice to study climate change

An ambitious Arctic expedition has reached a milestone. Researchers have found a floe to freeze into, where they'll construct an observatory and study Arctic systems from a ship.

by Ravenna Koenig

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October 3, 2019 8:05 PM

Home sweet volcano: Alaska fur seals thrive at unlikely spot

Alaska’s northern fur seal population for three decades has been classified as depleted, but the marine mammals are showing up in growing numbers at an unlikely location: a tiny island that forms the tip of an active undersea volcano.

by The Associated Press

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October 3, 2019 6:05 PM

Hydrogen power, modular nuclear and the other technology Xcel Energy has its eyes on

Xcel Energy CEO Ben Fowke says the utility should have no problem reaching its goal of reducing carbon by 80 percent by 2030. It’s that last 20 percent that will require still-nascent technology.

by Paul Huttner and Megan Burks

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October 2, 2019 10:19 AM

Ask a 'sotan: What's an eco-friendly way to bag groceries?

As Duluth weighs a plan to curb plastic bag use, we asked two local experts to answer questions from MPR News listeners about the merits of paper, plastic or something else to haul their groceries.

by Mike Moen

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October 1, 2019 10:10 AM

Federal judge rejects challenges to PolyMet land swap

A federal judge ruled that the groups lacked the necessary legal standing to block a land exchange between PolyMet and the federal government. The exchange is part of the planned PolyMet copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota.

by The Associated Press

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September 30, 2019 1:01 PM

Husky given green light to rebuild Superior refinery

Husky Energy says it has received approval for its $400 million plans to rebuild the Superior oil refinery and plans to begin construction immediately. The explosion and series of fires in April last year injured 36 people, caused a temporary evacuation and damaged the refinery’s equipment and storage tanks.

by Danielle Kaeding