Environmental News

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Getting to Green: Minnesota’s energy future

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Domestic violence shelter expands to make room for pets
A new pet shelter in Maplewood has a goal that’s different from other animal rescues. Attached to Tubman domestic violence shelter, this home for pets serves people experiencing domestic violence. It’s the first of its kind in the Twin Cities.
From a basement lab to computers worldwide, Concordia College digitizes thousands of species
After languishing for decades — in some cases more than a century — in Minnesota museum collections, more than one million bugs, birds and other specimens are now being offered to a new audience.
St. Paul iron foundry to increase operations after judge strikes down state order
A St. Paul iron foundry is scaling back up to normal operations after a court order overturned limits previously imposed by state regulators. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency ordered Northern Iron to reduce its operations in April, alleging that the foundry was violating federal air quality standards. But a judge has now partially struck down that order.
Sven Sundgaard catches up with the pigeon he rescued at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
If you find an injured animal in the Twin Cities area, there’s one go-to place that can help: the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Roseville. They just had their busiest May-June ever.
Roof Depot project seeks alternative funding after missing deadline for site purchase
A Minneapolis neighborhood organization has missed a payment deadline to purchase the former Roof Depot site from the city, after the state Legislature failed to pass funding earlier this year. But community advocates say they’re making progress on a backup plan.
1 million gallons of ash wastewater spilled from northern Minnesota coal plant
Duluth-based Minnesota Power says it is working closely with state and federal agencies after an estimated 1 million gallons of coal ash wastewater leaked from a pipeline at Boswell Energy Center in Cohasset into a nearby lake.
States challenge EPA rule to protect tribal treaty rights
A recently finalized federal rule would require states to consider tribal treaty rights when setting state water quality standards. A dozen states are suing to overturn the rule, claiming Environmental Protection Agency over reach.
Program provides free water test kits for private well users in southeastern Minnesota
Private well users can receive free water test kits to check for contamination with the option to apply for financial assistance in fixing any contamination. This can include installing water treatment equipment, fixing wells or sometimes even installing a new well. 
Referendum set for South Dakota voters on controversial carbon dioxide pipeline law
A statewide referendum vote is set in South Dakota for the Nov. 5 general election on a so-called “landowner bill of rights” related to a controversial carbon dioxide pipeline project proposed for the Midwest.