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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Drought-plagued Californians are still too thirsty
Residents of California have made a good faith effort to use less water but they fell just short of the state's conservation target.
Mille Lacs businesses want state help to woo non-anglers
Representatives from Mille Lacs Lake made their case to lawmakers Monday for state aid to help advertise the region's state parks, trails and other recreation amid a major drop-off in the lake's walleye population
Farm income takes a hit
Minnesota farm income dropped to a 20-year low in 2015, according to an analysis released last week by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the University of Minnesota Extension. Tom Weber talked with Kent Thiesse, a farm management analyst at MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal.
Minneapolis moves to ban plastic bags
Under a new city ordinance, retailers can offer paper, reusable or compostable bags. They can either charge customers at least 5 cents per bag, or the retailer can pay the same fee to a litter cleanup nonprofit.
A group representing about 20 upstream cities and townships in North Dakota and Minnesota filed a lawsuit in 2013 asking for a cheaper project that doesn't flood farmland.
Avoiding a future crisis, Madison removed lead water pipes 15 years ago
The water crisis in Flint, Mich., raised an alarm about the dangers of lead in our water supply, but it is not new knowledge. Madison, Wis., knew about it and removed all its lead pipes 15 years ago.
Elevated levels of suspected carcinogen found in states' drinking water
A chemical widely used to make many water-resistant and nonstick items can be found in many community water supplies. But elevated levels of PFOA are turning up in three Northeastern states.
Will climate change open up the Arctic to tourism?
Both commercial vessels and tourist ships may take advantage of newly accessible passageways in the Arctic.
Walkers along Minnesota River highlight need for clean water
A group of activists is walking the length of the Minnesota River this week, hoping to add a spiritual motivation to improve the waterway.