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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.

Natural gas dethrones coal as power companies look to future

Natural gas dethrones coal as power companies look to future

The way Americans get their electricity is changing. Coal is in decline. Natural gas is bursting out of the ground in record amounts. And the use of wind and solar energy is growing fast. All this is happening as power companies are trying to choose which kind of energy to bet on for the next several decades.

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Festival celebrates, demystifies owls

Festival celebrates, demystifies owls

The 11th International Festival of Owls takes place this weekend in Houston in southeastern Minnesota.
by Tom Crann

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Plight of the American bumblebee: Disappearing?

Plight of the American bumblebee: Disappearing?

It's not just honey bees that are in trouble. The fuzzy American bumblebee seems to be disappearing in the Midwest.

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Wisconsin Senate passes mining bill

Wisconsin Republicans inched closer Wednesday to passing their divisive mining legislation, pushing the proposal through the state Senate by a single vote after a draining debate with Democrats who insist the measure will open the door to devastating pollution.

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Mille Lacs walleye rules meeting draws standing room only crowd

Mille Lacs walleye rules meeting draws standing room only crowd

A town hall meeting Wednesday night on the north side of Lake Mille Lacs was packed, as Department of Natural Resources officials heard from area residents and business owners about how regulations on one of the state's most popular walleye lakes could impact the community.
by Conrad Wilson

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Planned Mille Lacs walleye limit up for discussion tonight

Planned Mille Lacs walleye limit up for discussion tonight

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will meet Lake Mille Lacs residents and business owners Wednesday night to discuss planned reductions in the walleye harvest this season.
by Conrad Wilson

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Hundreds of water permit holders pumping more than allowed

Hundreds of water permit holders pumping more than allowed

Records show hundreds of water permit holders in Minnesota are illegally using billions of gallons more water then they are allowed. But they face few consequences for these misdemeanor violations. Even in a two-year drought, state officials admit they don't spend much time enforcing permit limits.
by Mark Steil

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Meetings to discuss strategy against gypsy moth

Meetings to discuss strategy against gypsy moth

Meetings to discuss plans to slow the spread of the invasive gypsy moth are being hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture this week in northern Minnesota.
by Dan Kraker

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