When ice out happens on Minnesota lakes — and what that means, anyway
The Minnesota DNR has records on ice out going back to the 1800s for some lakes.
Environment
Will new study on wakesurfing cause the sport to wipeout on some Minnesota lakes?
New research from the University of Minnesota suggests wakesurf boats would need to run at least twice as far from shorelines, docks and other lake-goers for their waves to have the same impact as other common recreational boats used for sports like tubing, waterskiing and wakeboarding.
Court of Appeals rescinds key PolyMet permit, says project must get new groundwater analysis
The ruling wasn’t a total victory for mine opponents, however. The court ruled in favor of PolyMet and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on several other issues.
What (if anything) does a deal with Tesla mean for the controversial Tamarack mining project in northern Minnesota?
Talon Metals Corp. wants to build an underground mine that would operate for nine years and primarily extract nickel, but also some copper, cobalt, platinum group metals and iron.
How cold is Minnesota?
It’s not just the social relations that are icy.
Why 2022 could be a critical year for the controversial PolyMet mining project in northern Minnesota
What to know about where the $1 billion proposal stands today — and what’s in store for PolyMet in the coming year.
Why thunderstorms and high winds are so rare in Minnesota in December. And why that could be changing.
Wednesday’s storms even produced a tornado in Southern Minnesota — something that has never been recorded in the state in December.
The Line 3 replacement has been completed and operating for months. So why are activists still camped out by the construction sites?
Life in the resistance camps is difficult, but activists say important work remains.
The MPCA is betting on electric school buses to improve student health and cut greenhouse gas emissions
A new pilot program helps districts replace diesel buses with electric ones — vehicles that cost about $300,000.
How Minneapolis’ simple change to newly constructed boulevards will improve water quality
Stormwater runoff is easy to ignore in an urban environment, since, at least when everything’s working correctly, it runs into storm drains, under the street and out of sight.
Wisconsin bill would clarify third-party solar’s legal status, once and for all
In third-party solar, a company installs panels for a customer and then either leases the panels or sells the power or net-metering credits to the property owner.
The Biden administration’s mining study and the future of Twin Metals, explained
On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced it will seek a “mineral withdrawal” for lands in the Rainy River watershed in Superior National Forest, near the Boundary Waters.
With a Democratic administration in place, could the federal government’s study of mining in northern Minnesota finally be released?
The study, begun in the final days of the Obama administration, was canceled by former President Donald Trump just four months shy of its completion.
EPA signs off on major changes to Minnesota’s water quality rules
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency worked on the revisions for ten years and formally proposed the changes last winter. But the federal approval has left environmental activists reeling.
Dry conditions may have boosted Minnesota’s wild rice crop this year, but climate change leaves the future uncertain
Wild rice thrives in water depths of one-to-three feet, though low water can make actually harvesting the grains a challenge.
Long waits to connect to Xcel’s grid are stalling Minnesota solar projects
Xcel told one customer they would need to wait 15 years to connect their solar system to its electric grid.
Poll finds support among Minnesota voters for Clean Cars rule — and Line 3
Public views on the issues may not be as sharply partisan as one might expect.
Were weather forecasts worse than usual this summer?
Or is it just you?
How prepared is Minnesota for other wildfires on the scale of Greenwood — or larger?
The ability to contain wildfires has more to do with favorable weather conditions than resources, according to Lee Frelich, director of the U of M’s Center for Forest Ecology.
How climate change will affect Minnesota’s outdoor workforce
A new study found that rising temperatures are projected to expose outdoor workers to hazardous heat conditions that will put both their health and wages at risk.
