Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/category/environment/page/12/)
The nations of the world have expressed their concern about the Iranian regime’s apparent drive to develop nuclear weapons. Iran, a purveyor of international terrorism and an avowed enemy of Israel, is the target of an international sanctions regime designed to hinder its nuclear program.
Public Record Media has posted a second set of documents obtained through a public data request made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The documents largely center on metallic Continue Reading
A recent overhaul of an existing recycling ordinance in Minneapolis means that food and beverage vendors have until April 22, 2015 (Earth Day) to stop using containers made of expanded polystyrene or EPS foam. The material – which is most commonly known as Styrofoam – is difficult to dispose of sustainably: it turns into a toxic ash when burned, and takes centuries to deteriorate when landfilled, where it often breaks into smaller pieces animals mistake for food. It is also challenging and unprofitable to recycle, since it is often contaminated by food and is comprised largely of air. Continue Reading
The state conventions are over. The parties have picked their candidates. The battle has begun, though we haven’t heard much sound and fury yet.
During the 2014 Minnesota legislative session, environmental policy victories mostly passed under the radar. For example, some of the most significant and positive policy changes in 25 years took place on recycling. Continue Reading
In my last blog, I discussed the disappointing yet legally sound court decision to strike down part of Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Act. Most known for setting renewable energy and conservation mandates, this lesser-known piece sought to curb state emissions by restricting the import of electricity from new power plants that would raise Minnesota’s overall emissions. The decision highlighted the barriers states face as individual actors when addressing problems – like pollution – that aren’t confined to political boundaries. Continue Reading
Bluestem has been following the case of the Erickson mine in Houston County. Last week, we posted that the Minnesota EQB tabled Erickson Mine decision; in WI, Pattison Sand Bridgeport site suffered breach in April rain. Continue Reading
Minnesota will be the first state in the nation to authorize a 10 percent blend of renewable biodiesel in petroleum diesel fuel on July 1, AgriNews reports. Continue Reading
We are facing the destruction of everything so that oil oligarchs can extract more money for another decade or two. Never mind that there is no happiness left for the oil oligarchs left to buy. If we allow the oil oligarchs to burn the carbon reserves they currently own, total warming in 300 years would lead to 2.75 doublings of CO2, or a global temperature rise of about 12 °C. One more study says 12 °C would cause too much heat stress for humans to survive. Even if we could shelter humans under such conditions, the problem is that our main staples of food will not grow. Continue Reading
On a regular basis, Minnesota has insect plagues. The most famous is the locusts that would look like an incoming snowstorm. This year we may have the tent caterpillar invasion. Our cold spring may have saved us this year, although there is just enough seed population that the tent caterpillar invasion will happen one of these years. Just to give you an idea of the cycles, here is a chart published by the Minnesota DNR. Continue Reading