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.

City of Monticello sets stage for allowing data centers, with restrictions
The ordinance includes new restrictions for large data centers, which city officials say are aimed at reducing negative impacts on people living nearby. The ordinance also ensures Monticello residents don’t bear any financial costs.
Trump ends ban on mining near the Boundary Waters
President Trump has signed into law a resolution that ends a 20-year mining moratorium on about 350 square miles of federal land just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Researchers say remote Lake Superior island's wolves are thriving as packs prey on moose
Researchers say more wolves are roaming a remote Lake Superior island, using moose as one of their primary food sources. Isle Royale is a 134,000-acre island in far western Lake Superior between Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Thunder Bay, Canada.
Minnesota usurped as national community solar leader
A new report released by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance found that Maine has overtaken Minnesota as the nation’s leader in community solar.
Researchers perplexed by growing numbers of 'zombie' fish deep in Lake Superior
Scientists have discovered a growing number of emaciated lake trout deep in Lake Superior, about half their normal body weight. They’re racing to learn what’s behind the phenomenon.
Ceremony provides prayer, healing for Twin Cities waterway on Earth Day
For some, celebrating Earth Day means cleaning up litter, spending time outside or getting ready to plant a garden. For others, it’s an opportunity to honor the water. Several dozen people took part in a water walk on Wednesday to honor Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ, or Bassett Creek.
State climatologist calls for more weather nerds to join rain, hail and snow network
More than 20,000 people nationwide volunteer as part of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS. And the Minnesota Climatology Office is hoping more people can join in the effort.
Can eco-friendly Minnesota manufacturers gain an edge amid high gas prices?
Natur-Tec, based in Circle Pines, makes sustainable bio-based materials and products, such as compostable trash bags. Vineet Dalal, its vice president and director of global market development, joined Morning Edition to explain the economics his company is experiencing.
The Senate overturned a mining ban near the Boundary Waters. What happens next?
Last week, the U.S. Senate overturned a 20-year federal mining ban on land near the Boundary Waters. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about what the change means and what happens next.