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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.

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.

Irrigation boosts potatoes, but Park Rapids pays more for water

Irrigation boosts potatoes, but Park Rapids pays more for water

Increased irrigation pumping is driving up the cost of water for residents in Park Rapids, Minn., and is a big reason the state has established one of three groundwater management areas here.
by Dan Gunderson

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Yellowstone bison slaughter begins

Yellowstone bison slaughter begins

Yellowstone National Park has transferred 20 bison to a Montana Indian tribe for slaughter under a plan to drastically reduce the size of the largest, genetically pure bison population in the U.S.
by The Associated Press

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DNR seeks tougher groundwater measurement

DNR seeks tougher groundwater measurement

Suspecting it is getting bad information from some water users, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has asked the Legislature for stricter requirements and penalties for measuring what wells are pumping.
by Dave Peters

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Coldest winter in decades could help Isle Royale wolves

Coldest winter in decades could help Isle Royale wolves

This brutal winter has created a bridge to Isle Royale that could be a godsend for the wolves there facing extinction.
by Michael Olson

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Minnesota bill to protect against oil derailments

Minnesota bill to protect against oil derailments

Rep. Frank Hornstein and Sen. Scott Dibble, both Minneapolis Democrats, will offer their bill in the legislative session that starts in two weeks.
by The Associated Press

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Should water cost us more?

Should water cost us more?

Should water cost more so people use less of it? That’s the first in a series of water questions we’re asking — and answering — on the Ground Level blog. Join the conversation.
by Dave Peters

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DFLers grill PolyMet over mining pollution fears

A group of state lawmakers heard more than five hours of testimony Tuesday on how PolyMet Mining would pay for future cleanup costs.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Hennepin County pressures Mpls. to start household composting

Hennepin County has given the city of Minneapolis until the end of the year to institute a residential composting program. The county wants the city to start collecting food waste and composting it, similar to the way it collects recycling. County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said the deadline will motivate the city to move quickly. “There’s Read more →
by Curtis Gilbert

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Yellowstone planning for large bison slaughter

Yellowstone planning for large bison slaughter

Park officials say the population needs to be reduced periodically to prevent too many bison from spilling into Montana, where there is limited tolerance for them because of disease concerns.
by The Associated Press

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Climate One: Considering our environmental debt

Climate One: Considering our environmental debt

From the Climate One series at the Commonwealth Club of California, experts discuss the environmental costs of industry and agriculture, and who should pay for them. What are the economic benefits of nature, and a healthy environment? Moderated by Greg Dalton.

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