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.

Yale honors the work of a 9-year-old Black girl whose neighbor reported her to police
Bobbi Wilson went on a mission to save New Jersey's trees, capturing spotted lanternflies. That frightened her neighbor, who called the cops. Now, her bug collection is part of a Yale museum.
Carbon-free energy plan bound for governor’s desk after Senate vote
On a party-line vote, the Minnesota Senate on Thursday voted to advance a plan that would require Minnesota electric utilities to transition to all carbon-free energy sources by 2040.
5 fast facts about the lack of ice on Lake Superior this year
There’s not much ice on Lake Superior this winter and total ice cover has been decreasing in the last few decades. What’s the outlook for the rest of this winter and what’s behind the change?
How Groundhog Day came to the U.S. — and why we still celebrate it 137 years later
Punxsutawney Phil predicts more winter ahead. Groundhogs may not have a great track record when it comes to weather forecasts, but experts say the tradition sheds light on our culture and environment.
Dog helps family escape fire at Duluth home
Fire officials in Duluth say the barking of a yellow Lab named Dudley woke up a 12-year-old girl — who in turn alerted her family and helped everyone to escape to safety after a fire at their home Wednesday night.
Minnesota's carbon-free electricity bill: 8 questions, answered
The measure that sets ambitious standards for clean energy in Minnesota over the next 17 years cleared its final legislative hurdle late Thursday night, and is headed to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature.
Minnesota makes progress in cutting emissions from electricity, more work to do in agriculture and home heating
The state had not met its greenhouse gas reduction targets since the legislature created them in 2007. So what’s different this time?
Report: Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped, but work still needed
Transportation remains Minnesota’s biggest source of greenhouse gases, followed by agriculture. Emissions from electricity generation continued to fall as utilities shuttered coal plants and relied more on wind and solar energy.