Topics

Energy & Resources

• Tribe, Xcel reach agreement on nuclear waste storage
  The Prairie Island Indian Community reached a tentative agreement Monday with Xcel Energy for additional nuclear waste storage at Xcel's Prairie Island nuclear plant, pending approval by the Minnesota Legislature.March 18, 2003
• Pump prices heading toward the $2 mark
  Gas prices are rising as fears over a war with Iraq mount. One U.S. senator is calling for inquiries into price gouging at the pump. A look at the causes behind this latest jump in the cost of filling up.February 20, 2003
• Spike in gas prices has drivers wondering: 'How high is up?'
  Gas prices are on the rise and have hit $1.75 a gallon in the Twin Cities. Possible war in Iraq and a general strike in oil-rich Venezuela are major reasons for the increases. But the prices at Minnesota pumps may be especially high because of the nature of state's gasoline market. The state attorney general's office examined the structure of the market after allegations of price gouging immediately following the September 11th terrorist attacks. While gouging wasn't proven, Mike Hatch found a market dominated by just a few players. MPR's Cathy Wurzer talked with Hatch.February 12, 2003
• More Minnesotans heating with natural gas
  Homeowners are paying more for natural gas this year, but it's still the fuel of choice for most Minnesotans. Many are saving money by replacing inefficient gas furnaces. They're even converting wood-burning fireplaces to gas.December 4, 2002
• Coleman outlines agriculture effort
  Sen.-elect Norm Coleman gave his first policy speech since the election on Tuesday night. The topic was agriculture. Coleman offered few specifics but received a standing ovation from members of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council.November 20, 2002
• Ethanol industry steamrollers opponents
  Ethanol supporters, such the nation's corn farmers, say it's a way to reduce this country's dependence on foreign oil and benefit the environment at the same time. Ethanol opponents doubt those arguments, but they're fighting a losing battle.November 12, 2002
• Driving with gas; hydrogen, that is.
  Is hydrogen the fuel that will help us kick our dependence on foreign oil? The world's major car companies are in a race. They are trying to get models powered by hydrogen fuel cells to showrooms as early as next year.October 14, 2002
• Gopher state ethanol problems trigger national crackdown
  The Environmental Protection Agency is negotiating with ethanol plants across the nation to cut back air pollution. Testing at Gopher State Ethanol, a converted St. Paul brewery, showed levels of pollutants far higher than the industry had claimed. Those results triggered an EPA crackdown on ethanol plants nationwide.September 23, 2002
• Small-scale wind power breaks into the mainstream
  Along with red barns and weathervanes, the rickety wooden windmill is a staple of the Midwest farm-scape. For more than a century, Minnesota farmers have been watering their livestock with the power of the wind. Many of these old farm windmills are still working hard today, but lately they're being overshadowed by a new breed that is taller, sleeker, and much stronger.September 19, 2002
• Selling Out to ADM?
  Farmers vote soon on whether to sell the state's largest ethanol plant to Archer Daniels Midland.August 21, 2002
• Beating the high cost of energy -- with corn
  In the wake of spiking energy costs, corn has been redefined as a fossil fuel alternative -- not just as a source for making ethanol, but as a fuel for furnaces.January 31, 2001

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