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.

DNR chief: Expect PolyMet environmental review by early spring
Commissioner Tom Landwehr called it a frustrating process but said officials were working as fast as possible to get the review 'out the door.'
Engineers try to match water levels of three reservoir lakes along the U.S.-Canada border to those of natural lakes in the region.
Climate One series: Resource Revolution
Part 1: Technology Innovation: Empowering America's economy in a hot and crowded world. Part 2: The Science of Climate Disruption: Two of the nation's top scientists discuss the latest science on the cause and effect of global warming on extreme weather events, and whether we might expect more such events.
Seeds for bees: Worries drive new plantings for pollinators
Honey bee deaths are generating new demand for seed mixes to grow habitat for pollinating insects. Observers say that's good for the seed business and the environment.
Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy agreed to work with Minneapolis on its climate action plan after the city explored the idea of creating its own electric utility last year.
Mississippi River states prepare for an oil spill -- not if, but when
The rapidly rising rail shipments of crude oil from North Dakota that pass by the Mississippi River have pressed Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa to practice handling an oil spill.
Adult zebra mussels haven't been discovered in North Dakota, despite reports of new and growing infestations in neighboring Minnesota.
Soil doctors hit pay dirt in Manhattan's Central Park
Scientists got a big surprise when they started digging — almost 170,000 different kinds of microbes. The urban park appears to measure up to wild places.