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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Stearns County dairy herd tests positive for avian flu
The H5N1 virus appeared in raw milk samples collected from a Stearns County herd. Health officials say there's no concern for public safety, because milk sold in stores is pasteurized to kill bacteria and viruses.
Xcel Energy wants to store more spent fuel at Prairie Island nuclear plant. Public hearings are this week
Xcel wants to continue operating the plant into the 2050s. It’s requesting to store an additional 34 casks of spent fuel at the site. But spent fuel storage has a history of controversy at the plant near Red Wing, which is just 700 yards from the Prairie Island Indian Community.
Burning restrictions in place in 15 Minnesota counties, including in the Twin Cities
Starting today, burning restrictions are in place across more than a dozen Minnesota counties, including several in the Twin Cities metro. Among the counties affected by the restrictions are Hennepin, Ramsey, Chisago, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Washington counties.
Minnesota and six other states push to shift road funds to transit and bike projects as Trump threatens cuts
A seven-state group known as the Clean Rides Network gained momentum this year in its advocacy for environmentally friendly transportation projects that it says the federal government has abandoned.
Fate of Duluth lab unclear amid reports of possible closure of EPA’s research arm
More than 100 people work at the U.S. EPA lab in Duluth. It’s part of the agency’s Office of Research and Development, which the Trump administration is targeting for possible large-scale layoffs.
Switching from gas to electric? Here are 3 appliances that are easy to install
Changing from gas to climate-friendly electric appliances often involves expensive retrofits. A growing list of companies offer stoves, heat pumps and water heaters that make it easier and cheaper.