One of the world’s largest freshwater ports is facing a future with far less coal. And while that might be celebrated by environmentalists, it will also have economic impacts across the upper Midwest.
For those pushing for a carbon-free Duluth, the biggest roadblock may be a company that has long been critical to the region’s economy — and its identity: Minnesota Power.
Even as Great Lakes cities cope with economic turbulence, climate change brings new challenges and opportunities.
In Minnesota, droves of hog farmers have nowhere left to sell their pigs as plants shutter, forcing some farmers to consider an unfortunate last resort to ease their backlog of hogs: putting them down.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s decision speaks to the difficulty of grappling with complex regulation amid an unprecedented situation, but it also raises a larger question: How do government agencies balance legal deadlines and meaningful public input when the state is on lockdown?
The DNR said Monday it will keep its parks, recreation areas, campgrounds and other public lands open for the time being.
A contingent of homeowners and environmental advocates say a proposal to keep wakesurfing 200 feet from shore, docks, and swimmers in Minnesota won’t be effective.
As environmentalists call to replace the fossil fuel with electricity in buildings, CenterPoint Energy, the largest gas utility operating in Minnesota, has been pushing to test “renewable natural gas” (RNG) and other alternative fuels to bring down emissions.
Scientists know surprisingly little about today’s remnant biodiversity in the grasslands – especially the status of what we call “big small mammals,” such as badgers, foxes, jackrabbits and porcupines.
Skeptical lawmakers in both parties ripped the proposal as misguided, particularly for rural Minnesota.
The measure, deemed the “coal holiday bill,” got its first hearing in a Minnesota House committee on Tuesday.
“There’s a different level of accountability when someone can see a video of you,” said state Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, a Roseville DFLer who sits on the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
Around the world, communities are using “Rights of Nature” laws to defend waterways, species and more from human threats.
Endangered species protections means wolves generally can’t be killed unless they are threatening human life.
House DFLers and Senate Republicans have promised to try to compromise on energy policy this year. But key leaders remain sharply divided and appear pessimistic about finding common ground.
A developer is pursuing city financing to build an aquifer thermal energy system as an alternative to natural gas.
Energy-conscious retrofits can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of housing without the need to start from scratch.
Everyone concedes the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s handling of a water pollution permit for the controversial PolyMet project was far from normal. The big question is whether it was improper.
From eliminating single-use plastic items to pressing school boards to commit to 100 percent clean energy, Minnesota students are changing how schools respond to climate change.
Kevin Pierard, who oversaw the permit at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said state officials asked him to submit concerns after a public comment period because, among other things, the critique would “create a good deal of press.”
