Minnesota's role in increasing renewable fuel supply In his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Bush called for America to produce 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels by 2017. Much of that fuel may well come from Minnesota's farm fields.Midday, January 24, 2007
Monticello nuclear plant shut down indefinitely Federal officials are asking several nuclear power plants to check their facilities after a piece of equipment broke down at a power plant in central Minnesota. The plant, located northwest of the Twin Cites in Monticello, is still shut down.January 17, 2007
The light bulb and you A simple device we use every day without thinking may hold the key to reducing greenhouse gases...if only we can be persuaded to use it. Midmorning looks at the environmental trade-offs we make with the light bulb.Midmorning, January 10, 2007
Small railroads see big ethanol future The ethanol boom is helping more than farmers. Most of the nation's ethanol production is transported by rail. Shortline railroads often ar the first link in moving the fuel from rural plants to big city markets.January 5, 2007
Ford dam draws potential buyers Ford has puzzled some by putting up for sale one of the soon-to-be-closed plant's major assets -- a unique hydroelectric plant that has powered Ford's St. Paul operation for 83 years.January 5, 2007
Energy from our prairies A new study in the journal Nature suggests that prairie grass may be a more efficient and practical source for biofuel than soy or even corn.Midmorning, December 11, 2006
Federal help for cellulosic ethanol Several companies are competing to build the nation's first cellulosic ethanol plants. The federal government likely will help decide the winners.December 9, 2006
Construction concerns stall new ethanol plants Some plans for new ethanol production have been postponed or canceled across the U.S. as the ethanol boom slows. One analyst says far more plants have been proposed than will ever be built.December 5, 2006
Sierra Club demands Big Stone Power Plant cut pollution The Sierra Club in Minnesota says it will go
to court unless the Big Stone Power Plant on the Minnesota-South
Dakota border takes steps to reduce pollution by about 90 percent.November 20, 2006
The arguments over Excelsior Energy The debate over Excelsior's coal gasification plant is underway, despite the cancellation of technical hearings.November 19, 2006
Timber troubles hurt northern economy Minnesota's timber industry is in crisis. Recent mill lay-offs at one of the state's largest wood products companies is sending ripples through the economy. Many loggers, haulers and suppliers are expecting things to get worse.October 31, 2006
The "roadless rule" and state land: a special case A California judge's ruling reinstating the "Clinton roadless rule" has complicated the debate about the use of forests in Minnesota.October 20, 2006
Heat cutoff rule now in effect Residents who may have trouble paying their energy bills. From now through April 15, residential energy customers are
protected from having their service disconnected.October 16, 2006