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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4 ways to engineer safer oil trains
Federal authorities are urging the rail industry to retrofit or replace tank cars carrying crude oil.
Water conservation strategies in face of climate change
California Governor Jerry Brown imposed water restrictions in the face of several years of extreme drought. In this "Climate One" program, several national and California water experts discuss the fairest and most effective ways to conserve water.
Mille Lacs walleye limit cut to 1; tightest rules yet
The tougher regulations are needed to keep the walleye harvest at a safe level, state officials said Wednesday. Walleye numbers in Mille Lacs are at a 40-year low.
In fight against avian flu, state looks for diseased birds
In their search, investigators are particularly interested in dead birds of certain species, including hawks and eagles.
MN's St. Louis River listed among nation's most endangered
American Rivers says the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine threatens the river's water quality. The group worries about the risk of pollution and loss of wetlands.
Big feedlots feed big worries in southern Minnesota
Lowell Trom sits at the center of a fight over the growth of huge feedlots that some believe are damaging the region's environment and quality of life.
Early spring is an important time to think about how to prevent human-bear confrontations. Not many plants are growing yet, so finding food can be a challenge for the animals.
DNR hires a new fleet of planes to douse wildfires
The dry winter has heightened the danger for fires this year. More than 6,000 acres have burned so far in around 300 separate fires.