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.

Submit a question or story for Getting to Green here.

Climate Cast

Listen to Climate Cast, the MPR News podcast all about our changing climate and its impact in Minnesota and worldwide.

Duluth Mayor Don Ness on Wednesday waded into the controversy over the growing web of oil pipelines across northern Minnesota as he endorsed Enbridge Energy's pipeline expansion plans.
The system, which company officials say makes up roughly half of the overall project, will remove sulfur and nitrogen from gasoline and convert it into a liquid fertilizer.
Three U.S. trouble spots
We take a look at three spots in the United States that have been making headlines: Puerto Rico, California and Vermont.
Following a hearing Tuesday night in Hallock, the Public Utilities Commission has hearings set for Wednesday in Thief River Falls and Cass Lake, and Thursday in Floodwood and Duluth. The hearings will conclude with a final forum April 3 in St. Paul.
Aquatic invasive species forum set for St. Paul
Organizers say that as agencies and researchers strive to protect Minnesota waters from zebra mussels, Asian carp and other invaders, boat manufacturers and other private-sector partners are playing a critical role in the search for long-term solutions.
Do you support the Enbridge pipeline project?
Enbridge Energy is proposing its largest pipeline project ever to transport more Canadian tar sands heavy crude to the U.S., the third major oil pipeline expansion or replacement it’s planning across northern Minnesota. The Calgary-based company proposed spending $7 billion to replace its 46-year-old Line 3 pipeline, which runs from near Edmonton to Clearbrook, Minn.,…
New state frac sand mining standards will aid industry, local communities, officials say
The 200-page document addresses a wide range of issues, including air quality, noise monitoring, storage, road and bridge impacts, and setbacks from homes. It's meant to be a guidebook that local leaders can use to regulate silica sand mining in their communities.
Public to have say on northern Minn. oil pipeline expansion
Enbridge Energy plans to boost the capacity of its Alberta Clipper pipeline that carries oil from Edmonton in the Alberta Tar Sands region to Clearbrook, Minn. and then to Superior, Wis.
Sacre bleu: It's Paris in the smog time
Paris is suffering from the worst smog it's seen in decades. Associated Press Paris Bureau Chief Angela Charlton explains the ways the city's dealing with the smog, including restrictions on drivers.
Pellet gun killed wolf that fled Isle Royale park
Scientists who study the park's wolves and moose say the wolf was a loner and had been attacked by other wolves before escaping this winter across a Lake Superior ice bridge.