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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.

Pollution agency may ease cattle feedlot rules

The board is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to drop a requirement for large feedlots to have water quality permits under the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System if they don't discharge manure into public waters.
by The Associated Press

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Earth Day special: Paul Hawken, Andrew Revkin, Sally Jewell and George Shultz

Earth Day special: Paul Hawken, Andrew Revkin, Sally Jewell and George Shultz

From the Commonwealth Club's "Climate One" series: Petrospective: Former secretary of state George Shultz and former CIA director James Woolsey speak about the necessity of moving toward clean energy. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell speaks about balancing conservation and jobs. Authors Paul Hawken and Andrew Revkin speak about ways to move beyond blame in the debate about climate change.

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Portland pee fiasco proves our lack of science knowledge

A couple of knuckleheads tinkled into a reservoir that serves as Portland's water supply so officials last week announced they're going to drain 38 million gallons of water. You can't have human urine in the water supply. What does this tell us?
by Bob Collins

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Telltale rainbow sheens show thousands of spills across the Gulf

Telltale rainbow sheens show thousands of spills across the Gulf

Since the disastrous BP spill in 2010, environmentalists have kept watch over Lousisiana's coastline. One consortium says there's far more oil leaking into the Gulf than companies are reporting.
by Bob Marshall

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Bird enthusiasts to begin mapping purple martin

Purple martins will begin returning to Wisconsin to nest in coming days, but some bird enthusiasts say their numbers are on the decline.
by The Associated Press

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Emerald ash borer found in Winona

Winona city officials confirm they've found the emerald ash borer within city limits.
by Elizabeth Baier

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Rehabilitated snowy owl released into the wild

Rehabilitated snowy owl released into the wild

An apparent collision with a Washington, D.C. bus sent the owl to the U of M's Raptor Center for new feathers and rehabilitation.
by Jon Collins

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Federal judge strikes part of Minn. energy law; Minnesota to appeal

Minnesota's Next Generation Energy Act, which passed in 2007 with bipartisan support, says in part that utilities may not import additional coal-generated electricity into the state unless they offset the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Trout, salmon deaths linked to invasives

A deadly vitamin deficiency can result when Great Lakes trout and salmon ingest an invasive fish species.

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As pesticide worries grow, 'bee safe' plants generate a buzz

As pesticide worries grow, 'bee safe' plants generate a buzz

Gardeners shopping for plants this spring at Bachman's nurseries will find some new signs in the soil. The company will begin telling customers which of its plants are safe for bees.
by Dan Gunderson

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