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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.

State regulators writing new frac sand rules

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other state agencies are beginning to write new rules for frac sand mining as part of a plan ordered by the Legislature.
by Stephanie Hemphill

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'White-nose' fungus found on bats in 2 Minnesota state parks

'White-nose' fungus found on bats in 2 Minnesota state parks

A fungus that can prove devastating to bat communities has been found in a cave at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park and at the mine at Soudan Underground Mine State Park.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Xcel, Minneapolis agree on green energy goals

Xcel, Minneapolis agree on green energy goals

The move may make a proposed vote on replacing Xcel with a city-run utility unnecessary. The commitments were outlined in an exchange of letters between Mayor R.T. Rybak and the utility.
by Rupa Shenoy

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Minn. firm's new water filter: bacteria

A rural Minnesota water company is experimenting with a new way of treating drinking water -- using bacteria to remove the harmful pollutants.
by Stephanie Hemphill

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Cities begin to plan for climate change

Cities begin to plan for climate change

2012 was record-setting year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2012 State of the Climate report.

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A pair of bills to fight Asian carp -- but would they work?

A pair of bills to fight Asian carp -- but would they work?

Paul Labovitz, superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, and Peter Sorensen, scientific director of the University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Center, join The Daily Circuit to discuss the latest on the fight against Asian carp.

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Goats have an appetite for buckthorn in SE Minnesota

Goats have an appetite for buckthorn in SE Minnesota

The DNR sees success using goats as a natural removal method for invasive plants like buckthorn on public lands.
by Alex Forster

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Goodhue Co. extends frac sand moratorium

Goodhue County commissioners voted today to extend the county's moratorium on frac sand mining by 180 days when the current ban expires next month.
by Elizabeth Dunbar

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Ecologists turn to grazing to revive grassland soil

The world's soil is in trouble. Ecologists say without dramatic changes to how we manage land, vast swathes of grassland are at risk of turning into hard-packed desert. To make sure that doesn't happen, researchers are testing out innovative ways to keep moisture in the soil.

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