Environmental News

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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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Barry Lopez, acclaimed author who tied people to place, dies at 75
Barry Lopez — who won a National Book Award in 1986 for “Arctic Dreams” — wrote about his travels to remote places. But his writings aren't just travelogues; they remind us of how precious life on Earth is, and of our responsibility to care for it. Lopez died Friday at age 75.
Scientists have found some truly ancient ice, but now they want ice that's even older
Ice is usually ephemeral; it doesn't last that long before melting. But some ice on our planet has stayed frozen for millions of years. Scientists searching for it hope tiny bubbles of air trapped in the ice will give a snapshot of the atmosphere millions of years ago.
Big Oil evaded regulation and plastic pellets kept spilling
Oil and gas companies make enough pellets each year to fill a stadium several times over. The oil industry has long known it has a pellet pollution problem, but that's not what they told the public.
Duluth rebuilds Lakewalk to — hopefully — withstand future storms
After being battered repeatedly by big storms and waves, the city of Duluth has invested millions of dollars in what it hopes is a bigger and stronger Lakewalk, the popular hiking and biking trail on the shore of Lake Superior. It’s part of an effort to make the city’s shoreline more climate resilient. 
Congress takes aim at climate change in massive relief bill
The huge pandemic relief and spending bill includes billions of dollars to promote clean energy such as wind and solar power. It also calls for a 15-year reduction in the use of potent coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators that are considered a major driver of global warming. 
Contractor at Enbridge Line 3 pipeline site dies in accident
A contractor working on the Enbridge Energy Line 3 pipeline project in northern Minnesota died Friday in an accident. An Enbridge spokesperson said the accident happened at a construction yard in Hill City.
Highlights of $900 billion COVID-19 relief, wrap-up bills
Congressional leaders have hashed out a massive, year-end catchall bill that combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, energy, education and health care. The huge, still-unreleased bill is slated for votes on Monday — with lawmakers having only a few hours to read it before casting their votes.